The 'Dina' Project Report, named after the first rape victim in the Bible and Torah, discusses new evidence of sexual violence on October 7, 2023, during the attack on Israel, writes The Times.
Among the 1,200 people killed in the most brutal terrorist attack on Israel in its history were the bodies of young women, stripped and tied to trees and poles, with gunshot wounds to their genitals and heads.
According to the report, sexual violence was 'widespread and systematic' during the October 7 attack, with rapes and gang rapes occurring in at least six different locations. But most victims were either killed during the attacks or were too traumatized to speak.
The 'Dina' Project Report is based on the testimonies of 15 returned hostages (only one of whom had previously testified) and a survivor of an attempted rape at the Nova music festival, as well as interviews with 17 people who saw or heard the attacks, and with therapists working with traumatized survivors. Among them were two brothers who hid under bushes, and Tali Biner, a nurse who hid in a container. They described 15 incidents, including gang rapes.
The authors of the report also spoke with a victim of an attempted rape at the Nova festival, who took 17 months to talk about it.
Additionally, testimonies were collected from 27 emergency service workers, 'describing dozens of cases in different locations', and forensic evidence obtained from photos and videos was analyzed.
According to Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, the project aims to 'be a voice for those who cannot or can no longer speak'.
Hamas used sexual violence as a 'tactical weapon of war', the report's authors note. 'We found patterns in the evidence,' added Sharon Zagagi-Pinhas, former chief military prosecutor of the Israeli army. 'Women were found dead, naked, and mutilated—with gunshot wounds to the genital area—and tied to trees. The fact that the same thing happened in three to six locations cannot be a coincidence but is evidence that it was a deliberate act.'
Furthermore, violence continued in captivity: many returned women reported forced nudity, physical and verbal sexual harassment, and threats of forced marriage.
'Sexual violence in the context of armed conflict is aimed at destroying and dehumanizing the community, so the idea of finding a specific perpetrator who harmed a specific victim is irrelevant,' said retired judge Navot Ben-Or. 'Saying, "When I joined Hamas, I only wanted to kill women and children, but I am categorically against rape" is ridiculous. You are responsible for everything that was done as part of the attack.'
The report calls on the UN Secretary-General to send a fact-finding mission considering the testimonies and to include Hamas in the blacklist in the UN's annual report on those using sexual violence as a weapon of war.