FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 27, 2023
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DAY 8 OF HAMAS REFUSING TO RELEASE WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND ELDERLY HOSTAGES FOR TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE: DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT HAMAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HOSTAGES
On December 20th, Hamas Rejected Israel’s Offer of Weeklong Ceasefire in Return for Releasing Women, Children, and Elderly Hostages Held by Hamas
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Eight days ago, Hamas refused to release women, children, and the elderly it is holding hostage in exchange for a weeklong pause in fighting, as details have emerged from reporting by USA TODAY about Hamas terrorists sexually assaulting hostages in captivity. A doctor who has recently treated the freed hostages, including young Israeli women, said “many” of them were sexually assaulted by Hamas while held hostage. USA Today also independently verified stories of mass sexual assault carried out by Hamas on October 7th.
Key Excerpts
- Two Israeli doctors, who have been treating released hostages, and an Israeli military official familiar with the matter confirmed to USA TODAY that some released hostages revealed they suffered violent sexual assaults in captivity. All three spoke on the condition of anonymity. One of the doctors assessed that “many” of the released Israeli female hostages aged 12 to 48 − there are about 30 of them − were sexually assaulted while held by Hamas in Gaza.
- The second doctor said many of the freed hostages exhibited signs of PTSD and “came to us as patients with the trauma of those who witnessed very severe sexual assaults.”
- Five volunteers and first responders who collected and helped identify the bodies of those killed during the attacks on Oct. 7 said they observed multiple signs of obvious and incontestable sexual assault. This included women naked from the waist down, with their legs splayed or underwear torn. USA TODAY was shown photographs and video that appeared to corroborate these assertions, which have been backed up by forensic pathologists.
- Israeli medical professionals and morgue workers said many women who died on Oct. 7 were found with broken legs and pelvic bones. They said that the severity of the mutilations they examined were such that it was not always possible to distinguish female from male victims. At least one survivor of the attack who was at the Supernova music festival on Oct. 7 near Gaza has told Israel police that she witnessed a gang rape.
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