INTERNACIONAL
Israel’s quest for justice exposes Hamas’ systematic sexual violence campaign during October 7 massacre
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WARNING: This article includes graphic and disturbing accounts from the October 7 massacre in Israel.
Rape, gang-rape and acts of extreme sexual violence carried out by Hamas terrorists during their brutal Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel were part of a well-planned systematic weapon of war, a report, based on collated, open-source evidence and new testimonies, has found.
Authored by The Dinah Project, a global initiative advancing justice for victims of conflict-related sexual violence, the 80-page report titled «A Quest for Justice: October 7 and Beyond» calls on international human rights groups to recognize that Hamas weaponized sexual violence as part of its atrocities and demands that the U.N. secretary general blacklist the Palestinian terror group.
«The main goal is to provide, for the first time, a comprehensive framework, based on all the available information, that has been analyzed and cross-checked from a legal perspective to prove that sexual violence was indeed used as a weapon of war by Hamas on October 7,» Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, director of the Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women at Bar-Ilan University, which oversees the Dinah Project, told Fox News Digital.
ISRAELI POLICE SAY EXTREME SEXUAL VIOLENCE, RAPE BY HAMAS TERRORISTS WAS SYSTEMATIC
Hamas terrorists killed civilians, including women, children and the elderly, when they attacked Israel on Oct. 7. (Israel Defense Forces via AP)
«Based on that, we hope to develop or to propose a legal theory that allows for the prosecution of all the terrorists who took part in the attack and hold them responsible and accountable for all the acts of sexual violence that were perpetrated,» said Halperin-Kaddari, who officially presented the report to Israel’s first lady Michal Herzog, wife of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, on Tuesday.
While accounts of sexual violence, including rape, gang-rape and genital mutilation, emerged quickly following Hamas’ brutal attack that sparked 20 months of war in Gaza, some in the international community – including multiple women’s rights groups – cast doubt on the reports due to a lack of physical evidence or of victims.
Most of the victims, Halperin-Kaddari pointed out, were either murdered, taken hostage or too traumatized to speak about their experience.
A bloodied handprint stains a wall in a Nir Oz house after Hamas terrorists attacked this kibbutz days earlier near the border of Gaza. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
«It was a huge disappointment that the international human rights community could not handle the truth or escape the politicization of this issue,» she said, adding, «it’s a sign of a failure by the international human rights community that could not accept a complex situation where one side in the conflict, which is always perceived to be the victim, turns into the aggressor and uses the most horrific kind of crime — rapes and sexual violence — to advance their cause.»
UNITED NATIONS SLAMMED FOR SILENCE OVER HAMAS RAPES, MUTILATION AND MURDER OF ISRAELI WOMEN, CRITICS SAY
Under pressure, some international organizations such as UN Women and the International Criminal Court in The Hague did carry out investigations, which concurred with accounts from witnesses and first responders that sexual violence and rapes had taken place.
The Dinah Project’s report builds on those investigations, bringing together, for the first time, first-hand testimonies, including from 15 returned hostages, 17 eye and earwitnesses, and 27 first responders.
According to the report, which also draws from forensic evidence, as well as visual and audio documentation, «sexual violence was widespread and systematic» during the attack, which saw more than 1,200 people, civilians and soldiers murdered, and some 251 taken hostage back to Gaza.
Destroyed cars and personal effects are still left scattered around the Supernova Music Festival site, where hundreds were killed and dozens taken by Hamas terrorists near the border with Gaza, on Oct. 7, 2023 in Kibbutz Re’im, Israel. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Further, the report found that the acts of rape, gang-rape and other forms of sexual violence took place in at least six different locations: the Nova music festival, Route 232, Nahal Oz military base, and Kibbutzim Re’im, Nir Oz and Kfar Aza.
«Clear patterns emerged in how the sexual violence was perpetrated, including victims found partially or fully naked with their hands tied, often to structures like trees or poles; evidence of gang rapes followed by execution; genital mutilation; and public humiliation,» said the report.
For those who were taken hostage, sexual violence continued into captivity, with multiple returnees reporting «forced nudity, physical and verbal sexual harassment, sexual assaults, and threats of forced marriage,» the report found.
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«Hamas used sexual violence as a tactical weapon, as part of a genocidal scheme and with the goal of terrorizing and dehumanizing Israeli society, a finding with significant implications for international justice mechanisms,» the report’s authors write, outlining some «practical frameworks for achieving accountability.»
Among the recommendations, the report urges the international community to view conflict-related sexual violence as a «distinct category,» different from everyday sexual offenses; to take into consideration «the systematic silencing of victims; to utilize more diverse forms of admissible evidence, including eyewitness accounts and circumstantial evidence; and to apply joint criminal responsibility to all participants in the attack, rather than requiring direct links between individual perpetrators and specific acts and victims.»
Palestinians walk away from the kibbutz of Kfar Azza, Israel, near the fence with the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Eslaiah)
«We also seek to set the historical record straight: Hamas used sexual violence as a tactical weapon of war,» the authors write, adding, «This report thus sets the stage for future criminal and other domestic and international proceedings against Hamas terrorists, leaders and collaborators.»
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Israeli first lady Michal Herzog, who received The Dinah Project’s report on Tuesday, said in a statement that it «lays out the truth.»
«On behalf of all those harmed, we must continue to fight until their voices are heard everywhere and justice is served,» she said, adding, «as a woman, a mother, and an Israeli, I read the reports with a broken heart… it challenges the global silence, replaces denial with facts, and calls on the world to recognize sexual violence as a crime against humanity and to prosecute those responsible.»
INTERNACIONAL
Inside NASA’s fast-track plans for lunar nuclear power and new space stations to outpace global rivals
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Amid significant budget cuts, NASA is fast-tracking the development of nuclear reactors on the moon and next-generation space stations with one clear objective: beating U.S. adversaries in the new space race.
Two new memos signed by interim NASA chief and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy outline a bold strategy to secure strategic ground on the moon. The centerpiece of this effort is a lunar nuclear reactor, a renewable and stable power source to support long-term exploration.
«The goal is to power everything,» a senior NASA official told Fox News Digital. «Our systems, habitats, rovers, robotic equipment, even future mining operations — everything we want to do on the moon depends on this.»
The moon’s environment makes this a necessity. Its month-long day cycle — two weeks of daylight followed by two weeks of darknessc — renders solar power unreliable. A reactor would allow missions to function around the clock.
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DUFFY TO ANNOUNCE NUCLEAR REACTOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE MOON
NASA is soliciting proposals from private firms for new commercial space stations and a lunar nuclear reactor. (SpaceX)
China and Russia set sights on the moon
NASA officials warn that China and Russia have publicly announced plans for a joint lunar nuclear project by the mid-2030s. If they succeed first, they could establish exclusive control over the moon’s most valuable areas, locations with the most light and access to water and ice.
«They could set up a ‘keep-out zone’ in the prime locations,» the NASA official cautioned.
Despite financial constraints, Duffy’s leadership signals a renewed priority to lunar and Martian exploration.
«China has already landed on the far side of the moon. We never have,» the official added. «They’re moving on a steady path to dominate this domain.»
The International Space Station will exit orbit in 2030. (Roscosmos State Space Corporation via AP, File)
New contract structure for nuclear reactor development
The new directive solicits proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor — enough to power about 80 homes — with a target launch date of 2030. It also requires NASA to appoint a dedicated program leader.
Today, many robotic spacecraft operate at just a few watts, the equivalent of a couple of light bulbs, which severely limits scientific capabilities. While the ISS uses solar panels, that model doesn’t work on the moon or Mars, where sunlight is too weak or unreliable.
Replacing the ISS: Commercial stations on the horizon
The second memo shifts focus to replacing the aging and leaking International Space Station (ISS), which is scheduled to be retired in 2030. Without a successor, China would become the only country with a permanently crewed station in orbit.
NASA now plans to select two commercial partners within six months of issuing new requests for proposals. Under Duffy’s direction, the agency is moving away from traditional fixed-price contracts and will instead use flexible Space Act Agreements, which give companies more freedom in how they build stations while saving time and money.
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«We’re telling companies what we need,» a senior NASA official said. «But we’re not prescribing how they must do it. That flexibility saves us both time and resources.»
NASA wants the new station to be cheaper and easier to maintain than the ISS. Originally, it envisioned a platform that could host two astronauts for six months. But, under the revised plan, the minimum requirement is four astronauts for just one month.
NASA wants a new commercial space station that can house four astronauts for one-month stints. (NASA via Getty Images)
Background: The Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination program
NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination (CLD) initiative, launched in 2021, was structured in two phases:
- Phase 1: Fund companies — like Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman — to design private space stations.
- Phase 2: Award contracts for building and certifying selected stations.
Duffy’s directive calls for skipping fixed-price contracts in Phase 2 and continuing with Space Act Agreements, in line with tightening budget constraints.
Budget cuts reshape NASA’s future
According to the Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal, NASA’s overall budget would drop from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion, a 25% cut. The Science Mission Directorate, which oversees research in planetary science, astrophysics, Earth observation and heliophysics, would face a nearly 50% reduction. However, human spaceflight programs are slated for increased funding.
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NASA has also confirmed that nearly 4,000 employees — about 20% of its workforce — have taken voluntary buyouts in recent months.
Despite these setbacks, agency officials remain optimistic.
«Multiple companies tell us they can deliver a station within two years,» one senior official said. «Timelines are always challenging, but we believe we can meet these goals — even on a leaner budget.»
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INTERNACIONAL
Hamas endgame is ‘long-term’ and is playing out for all to see as Israel pushes deeper into Gaza
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Israel’s security cabinet overnight Thursday approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to defeat Hamas, including taking control of Gaza City, after the Palestinian terror group torpedoed U.S.-mediated negotiations.
However, questions remain as to what the terrorist organization’s endgame is, and if they can be fully defeated.
«Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is a radical jihadi organization with a written and spoken goal to annihilate the State of Israel and replace it with a Sharia-based regime,» Jonathan Conricus, former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.
«They operate according to that aim and objective. Hamas’s October 7 terror attack was part of how they planned to fulfill that goal—defeating Israel, killing all the Jews, and taking control of the area.
NETANYAHU CONFIRMS ISRAEL WILL TAKE CONTROL OF GAZA TO ‘LIBERATE’ PEOPLE FROM HAMAS
Hamas terrorists marching in Gaza during a parade. (Getty Images)
«They are strategic, calculated, and extremely cynical—but definitely not suicidal,» he added. «They may employ suicidal tactics, but their strategic aim is long-term and deliberate.»
For example, Hamas’ «starvation» campaign generated significant international pressure on Israel, leading to steps such as the IDF announcing tactical pauses in fighting and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in coordination with international partners.
In the span of a week late last month, the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Canada announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state, which the Israeli government denounced as a reward for terror.
In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, senior Hamas terror leader Ghazi Hamad said, «The initiative by several countries to recognize a Palestinian state is one of the fruits of October 7.»
A Palestinian flag flies as Hamas supporters take part in a rally marking the 30th anniversary of Hamas’ founding, in Gaza City on Dec. 14, 2017. (REUTERS/Suhaib Salem)
Conricus said that such recognition has emboldened them. «They’ve hardened their negotiating stance and made it clear they don’t feel the need to compromise—which, of course, has a direct impact on the lives of the Israeli hostages.»
U.S.-mediated negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and the release of the 50 remaining captives have stalled, with Hamas showing increasing inflexibility, according to officials familiar with the talks.
Last month, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Washington was weighing «alternative options» as Hamas «does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith.»
NETANYAHU’S SECURITY CABINET TO MEET ON GAZA WAR, AS SOME IN ISRAEL CALL TO RESETTLE ENCLAVE
Members of the Hamas terror group gather in Gaza in preparation for the release of four female hostages as part of the ceasefire deal with Israel. (TPS-IL)
Palestinian affairs analyst Khaled Abu Toameh told Fox News Digital that Hamas’s position has been clear since the start of the war: to prevent Israel from achieving its objectives of removing the terror group from power and rescuing the hostages by force.
«It’s important for Hamas to be seen as emerging triumphant. They believe they’ve reached a point of no return.
«They know the international community will place the blame on Israel as the casualty toll rises. There is no pressure on Hamas to stop,» he added.
At the end of the day, Abu Toameh said, Hamas’s long-term strategy is to ensure its continued existence so it can carry on its jihad against Israel.
This image, made from undated bodycam video footage taken by a downed Hamas terrorist and released by the Israel Defense Forces, shows a Hamas terrorist walking around a residential neighborhood at an undisclosed location in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces via AP)
«October 7 was just another phase in this jihad,» he said. «It’s a jihad that began shortly after Hamas’s founding, when they unveiled their charter in 1988. The charter explicitly states that this land—the holy land, from the river to the sea—is Muslim-owned and will be liberated through jihad. It didn’t start with October 7, and it won’t end with October 7,» Abu Toameh warned.
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Experts say to understand the terror group is to simply look at its founding charter, which describes the «struggle against the Jews» as «very great and very serious,» requiring «all sincere efforts.» It calls the Palestinian terror group «one squadron» of a wider Arab and Islamic force that must continue fighting until «the enemy is vanquished and Allah’s victory is realized.»
world,israel,terrorism,conflicts,middle east
INTERNACIONAL
Familiares de los rehenes de Hamas alertan que el plan de ocupar ciudad de Gaza conducirá a una “catástrofe colosal”
El Foro de Familias de Rehenes y Desaparecidos ha condenado este viernes la decisión “imprudente” del Gobierno israelí liderado por el primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu de ocupar la ciudad de Gaza, ya que conduce a Israel a una “catástrofe colosal” y supone “abandonar” a su suerte a los secuestrados en manos del Movimiento de Resistencia Islámica (Hamás).
“Al optar por la escalada militar en lugar de la negociación, estamos dejando a nuestros seres queridos a merced de Hamas, una organización terrorista maligna que sistemáticamente priva de comida y maltrata a los rehenes”, han subrayado en un comunicado.
Los familiares de los rehenes han argumentado que el Gobierno ha “ignorado por completo las reiteradas advertencias” de la cúpula militar y la “clara voluntad” del pueblo israelí. “La expansión de los combates solo pone en mayor peligro a quienes aún permanecen retenidos en los túneles de Gaza”, han reiterado.
No obstante, han afirmado que “aún no es demasiado tarde” y han hecho un llamamiento a la ciudadanía a “detener esta peligrosa” deriva. “La única manera de traer a los rehenes a casa es mediante un acuerdo. Basta de guerras inútiles. No nos quedaremos de brazos cruzados”, han zanjado.
El Gobierno de Israel ha aprobado en la madrugada de este viernes la propuesta de Netanyahu sobre una escalada de la ofensiva militar en Gaza que incluye la ocupación de la homónima capital del enclave en base a premisas como “la desmilitarización” y el control de su seguridad, así como “el regreso de todos los rehenes, tanto vivos como fallecidos”.
Un 30 % de los israelíes cree que su país debe continuar con la presión militar y ocupar la Franja de Gaza, incluso a costa de dañar las vidas de los rehenes, según una encuesta publicada este viernes por el diario Maariv.
La encuesta se hizo los pasados días 6 y 7, cuando ya se habían filtrado informaciones de la intención del primer ministro israelí, Benjamín Netanyahu, de tomar el control de todo el enclave palestino.
Este viernes de madrugada, el gabinete de seguridad del Gobierno israelí aprobó un plan para continuar la ofensiva en Gaza que incluye ocupar ciudad de Gaza, una urbe con un millón de personas, que serán desplazadas al sur.
Según la encuesta, realizada a 504 personas con un error de muestreo máximo del 4,4 %, la mayoría de los israelíes (un 57 %) cree sin embargo que Israel debería esforzarse por lograr un acuerdo con Hamás para liberar a los rehenes a cambio del fin de la guerra y la retirada de la Franja de Gaza.
Respecto a las negociaciones para un alto el fuego entre Hamás e Israel, un 66 % opina que el grupo islamista es responsable de su fracaso, ya sea exclusivamente (44 %) o principalmente (22 %); el 15 % culpa a Israel y el 13 % dice que ambas partes son igualmente responsables.
El gabinete de seguridad del Gobierno de Israel dio luz verde en la madrugada de este viernes a un plan militar propuesto por Netanyahu que incluye ocupar ciudad de Gaza.
En declaraciones a la cadena estadounidense Fox News anteriores a la reunión del gabinete, Netanyahu afirmó que su objetivo era ocupar toda Gaza, pero que no pretende quedársela ni gobernarla, sino mantener un “perímetro de seguridad” y entregarla a “fuerzas árabes que la gobiernen” sin amenazar a Israel y sin Hamas.
Las fuerzas armadas israelíes se han mostrado reacias a este plan, que supone operar en lugares donde se encuentran retenidos los rehenes (quedan 20 vivos y 30 muertos), por temor a que las milicias palestinas en Gaza los ejecuten ante el avance de las tropas, como ya ocurrió a finales de agosto de 2024 con seis cautivos, hallados el 1 de septiembre.
Según la oficina de la ONU para la Coordinación de Asuntos Humanitarios (OCHA), el 88 % del enclave palestino está sometido ya a órdenes de desplazamiento forzoso o se ha convertido en una área militarizada del Ejército israelí, que cifra en un 75 % el territorio controlado por sus fuerzas.
(Con información de Europa Press y EFE)
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