US Senators Demand Unbiased UN Probe into Sexual Violence by Hamas

A united group of 33 U.S. senators is asking the United Nations to establish an independent investigation into reports of sexual violence by Hamas terrorists during their attacks in southern Israel October 7. In response to the U.N.’s plans to assign the Permanent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel (COI) to investigate allegations of sexual violence, the senators wrote a letter to United Nations Secretary General António Guterres criticizing the move. They suggested that a separate mechanism should be found for investigating the reported sexual violence by Hamas, suggesting that the COI has shown bias towards Israel. The senators also aligned themselves with Israeli government concerns that the COI’s investigation would not be trustworthy and criticized the U.N.’s response to the attacks. In addition to exploring the allegations of sexual violence, COI Chair Navi Pillay expressed interest in investigating the killings of reporters and the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip. Following concerns that the U.N. Women’s response to the Oct. 7 attacks was insufficient, the group called for greater condemnation of Hamas and action to support Israeli survivors of sexual violence. The senators also called on U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to hold U.N. Women leadership accountable for a delayed and passive response to the attacks.



Source link