Bipartisan senators call for formal UNSC investigation into Oct. 7 sexual violence by Hamas

• Published date: 25 March 2024
• Author: HANNAH SARISOHN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Also behind the resolution are Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)

"I appreciate my colleagues for joining in this bipartisan effort," Graham said. "It is imperative that the UN firmly stand against sexual violence and sexual torture as a tool of war. In order to hold the perpetrators accountable, there must be an effort to preserve the facts and circumstances around Hamas's brutal and barbaric sexual assault on Israeli women and children. This is a defining moment for the UN. Start the investigation and start it now."

The resolution also calls for the international community to hold accountable those who perpetrated acts of sexual violence and sexual torture during and after October 7.

Several weeks ago, the UNSC held a debate at the request of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom to focus on a report authored by Pramila Patten, the UN special representative of the secretary-general on Sexual Violence in Conflict, which found 'reasonable grounds" to believe Hamas and affiliated...