UN: 'Convincing information' sexual violence committed against hostages in Gaza

A UN team says there is "convincing information" that hostages held in Gaza have been subjected to sexual violence including rape and sexualised torture.

There were grounds to suspect the abuse was still ongoing, the UN said.

The UN team also found "reasonable grounds to believe" sexual violence, including gang rape, took place when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October.

Israel's foreign ministry said it welcomed the "definitive recognition that Hamas committed sexual crimes".

The UN Security Council should now designate Hamas as a terrorist organisation and impose international sanctions on it, spokesman Lior Haiat said.

Hamas rejected the UN report as "baseless and only aimed at demonising the Palestinian resistance".

The group denies its gunmen sexually assaulted women during the attacks or mistreated female hostages they took to Gaza.

Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of rape and sexual violence

Pramila Patten, the UN's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, said her team had "found clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualised torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" had been committed against hostages.

There were "reasonable grounds" to believe such violence could be "ongoing against those still held in captivity", she told reporters.