A U.N. report finds 'reasonable grounds to believe' attacks in Israel included rapes

A report by the United Nations has found "reasonable grounds to believe" that the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel included sexual violence — including rape and gang rape — and that some Israeli hostages experienced such violence while in captivity in Gaza.

The long-awaited report is not a full-fledged U.N. investigation, according to its author, the U.N. special representative for sexual violence in conflict. Israel has blocked such an investigation by the U.N.'s human rights office over what the country's leaders allege is anti-Israel bias.

Still, it represents the most extensive report yet on the subject of sexual violence on Oct. 7 conducted by an independent body based outside of Israel.

The findings are based on dozens of interviews with survivors and witnesses of the attack, first responders and health providers conducted during a 17-day trip to Israel in January and February. The U.N. researchers and specialists also reviewed more than 5,000 photographs and around 50 hours of footage of the attacks.