INTERNACIONAL
Hamas used sexual violence ‘deliberately and systematically’ on Oct 7, commission report finds
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WARNING: This article includes graphic and disturbing accounts from the October 7 massacre in Israel.
Hamas and its Palestinian collaborators used sexual and gender-based violence «deliberately and systematically» as an inherent part of a wider strategy of the 2023 massacres in southern Israel, according to a report released Tuesday by the Civil Commission on Oct. 7 Crimes Against Women and Children.
The Israeli nonprofit said its investigation documented evidence of abuse at multiple sites during the Oct. 7 terror invasion, including the Nova Music Festival, kibbutzim near the Gaza border, Israel Defense Forces bases, among hostages in captivity and in the condition of recovered bodies showing signs consistent with sexual violence.
According to the report, investigators identified at least 13 recurring forms of abuse, including rape, sexual torture, shootings directed at victims’ genital areas and abuse carried out after death.
ISRAEL’S QUEST FOR JUSTICE EXPOSES HAMAS’ SYSTEMATIC SEXUAL VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN DURING OCTOBER 7 MASSACRE
A Hamas terrorist is seen walking around a residential neighborhood in southern Israel in undated bodycam footage released by the Israel Defense Forces. The footage was shown to foreign correspondents on Oct. 16, 2023, as part of a 40-minute reel compiled from the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. (Israel Defense Forces/AP)
Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, founder and chair of the Civil Commission and a principal co-author of the report, told Fox News Digital that the greatest challenge in compiling the findings was the team’s repeated exposure to graphic material and the trauma associated with reviewing it on a regular basis.
«We had to not only collect materials, but also review and analyze it alongside forensic experts while witnessing human suffering at its worst,» Elkayam-Levy said. «What motivated us was the denial, the hesitation and the questioning. We wanted to ensure that the world knows what happened to the victims.
«For us, it is a final act of justice for the victims,» she added.
The report also detailed cases in which sexual violence was inflicted in front of or involving family members, including one incident in which relatives were allegedly forced to carry out acts on each other.
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People visit the site of the Nova music festival in Re’im, southern Israel, where revelers were killed in a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The visit took place on Jan. 14, 2024, marking 100 days since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. (Leo Correa/AP)
It further accused Hamas and allied perpetrators of using videos, digital platforms and social media as tools to magnify psychological harm, spread fear and publicize the attacks, including by distributing sexualized material.
Elkayam-Levy said she hopes the findings will not remain confined to academics, human rights organizations or activists, but will also be studied by counterterrorism and national security experts to better understand and confront such atrocities.
«We cannot prevent what we do not fully understand,» Elkayam-Levy said. «No single prosecution could ever capture the full magnitude of these crimes in the way this report does. It is therefore critical that policymakers, decision-makers, members of Congress and senators find ways to formally recognize these findings and hold hearings so we can begin addressing this issue. We want the findings of this report to receive formal institutional recognition.»
The report, Elkayam-Levy noted, underscores that victims of the Oct. 7 atrocities came from 52 countries, highlighting the global scope and impact of the attack.
Witness testimony cited in the report included an account of a woman being sexually assaulted before being beheaded. Another witness described seeing a woman dragged from a vehicle, pinned against a wall, repeatedly raped and then stabbed, with the assault allegedly continuing after her death.
In another case, a witness described discovering the body of a man whose genitals had been severed, lying beside the body of a woman holding them, in what the report described as an apparent effort to degrade and humiliate the victims.
A Hamas terrorist is seen walking around a residential neighborhood in southern Israel in undated bodycam footage released by the Israel Defense Forces amid the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces/AP)
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Investigators said some female victims were found naked or partially unclothed, with evidence of severe mutilation and objects including grenades, nails and household tools inserted into their bodies. The report also cited gunshot wounds, cuts and burn injuries concentrated on intimate areas.
The report said some female bodies brought to morgues showed broken pelvises or legs, bloodied underwear and additional trauma to the abdomen or groin.
Former hostages, both women and men, have also testified to rape, sexual torture and other forms of abuse during abduction or captivity, according to the report. It said some female captives reported sexual assaults while receiving treatment in Gaza hospitals for injuries sustained during the attacks.
A bloodied handprint stains a wall inside a house in the Nir Oz kibbutz near the Gaza border after a Hamas attack days earlier. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Male hostages likewise described sexual abuse while in captivity, including assaults in showers and incidents carried out under armed threat while victims were naked, the report said. One former hostage recounted being sexually assaulted when a captor forcibly rubbed his genitals against the victim’s anus.
Last month, former hostage Rom Braslavski recounted the abuse he said he endured during captivity in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital.
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«They would hit me with whatever they had on hand. I underwent severe torture, bondage and sexual abuse. Everything they could do to me, they did. My body is still covered in scars. After four months of torture, I was clinically dead, rolling my eyes and passing out. They decided to stop the violence and brought doctors to treat me with injections and gave me food again,» he said.
The report said sexual and gender-based violence was «widespread and systematic» and constituted an «integral component» of both the Oct. 7 attacks and the subsequent treatment of captives, while calling the prosecution of such crimes an «urgent» priority to be pursued through international accountability mechanisms.
A soldier of the Military Rabbinate unit opens a container holding bodies killed during the Hamas attack on Israel’s southern border as identification continues at the Shura army base in Ramle, Israel, on Oct. 24, 2023. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
Among its recommendations, the commission called for targeted sanctions against individuals and entities accused of carrying out or materially supporting the Oct. 7 attack and its aftermath. It also urged action against what it described as denial, minimization or politicization of the sexual crimes committed during the massacre and in captivity.
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«The Commission further recommends that Israel adopt a comprehensive gender strategy within its prosecutorial framework and establish a specialized chamber or panel of judges dedicated to the prosecution of sexual and gender-based crimes committed on October 7th and during captivity,» the report said.
Elkayam-Levy said the report has received widespread international attention, including front-page coverage in U.S. and global media outlets. «We feel the discussion has shifted from questioning whether these crimes occurred to examining their consequences,» she said. «There is now a substantial legal evidentiary foundation preserved in a secure archive that cannot be denied.»
anti semitism, rape, sex crimes, hamas, mass murder, terrorism, israel
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Newly released police bodycam footage is intensifying scrutiny of local police after officers handcuffed an 18-year-old university student who repeatedly told them he had been stabbed and could not breathe moments before dying on a Southampton street.
The video, released Monday following the murder conviction of 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, shows Henry Nowak telling officers, «I’ve been stabbed» and «I can’t breathe» while lying on the ground after the Dec. 3, 2025, attack.
One officer responded: «I don’t think you have, mate,» according to the video.
Police handcuffed Nowak after Digwa claimed he had been the victim of a racist assault, according to court proceedings previously reported by Sky News.
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Henry Nowak is shown in a police handout image from Hampshire Police. (Hampshire Police)
Reuters reported that officers later removed the handcuffs and attempted CPR after realizing Nowak had suffered serious stab wounds.
Digwa was sentenced Monday to life in prison after being convicted of murdering the 18-year-old University of Southampton finance student with a 21-centimeter blade prosecutors described as a Sikh kirpan-style weapon.
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The case has sparked political backlash in Britain and renewed debate over policing, race and knife crime.
In a statement read outside court Monday, Nowak’s father, Mark Nowak, said his son repeatedly pleaded for help before losing consciousness.
Vickrum Digwa was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court of murdering university student Henry Nowak by stabbing him five times with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife on Dec. 3, 2025, in Southampton. (Hampshire Police/PA Wire)
«Henry had been stabbed multiple times, and as his chest filled with blood, he tried to escape. He was chased, abused, and filmed by Vickrum Digwa and others,» Mark Nowak said, according to Reuters. «When police arrived, Henry was lying on the floor, barely able to sit up and plainly in severe medical distress.»
«With his final words, he told officers that he could not breathe. He told them he had been stabbed,» Mark Nowak said, according to Reuters. «The response from one officer was ‘I don’t think you have, mate,’» he added.
Mark Nowak said the family held Digwa «solely and 100% responsible» for their son’s death, but criticized the police, saying, «Henry should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody. The way he was treated was inhumane and degrading.»
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said the case showed «the fear of being called racist was greater than dealing with Henry Nowak’s murder,» according to Reuters.
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Newly released police bodycam footage is intensifying scrutiny of local police after officers handcuffed an 18-year-old university student who repeatedly told them he had been stabbed and could not breathe moments before dying on a Southampton street. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick also called for the release of body-worn camera footage and accused authorities of prioritizing allegations of racism over saving Nowak’s life during an appearance on GB News.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the killing as «an awful, shocking case» and said it was right that the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigate the police response.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, the police force responsible for policing Southampton and surrounding areas in southern England, previously apologized after the conviction, with Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France saying he was sorry that Nowak had been handcuffed «in the moments before he lost consciousness,» according to Sky News.
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The police force remains under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Fox News Digital reached out to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary for comment but did not receive a response.
Reuters contributed to this story.
police and law enforcement, investigations, homicide, united kingdom, true crime
INTERNACIONAL
Fue medallista paralímpico y hoy se prepara para vivir en órbita: por qué la misión de John McFall es más que un viaje espacial
En el centro de astronautas de la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) en Alemania, el británico John McFall se prepara para convertirse en el primer astronauta con discapacidad física en vivir en órbita. La misión, prevista para 2027, forma parte de un acuerdo entre la Agencia Espacial del Reino Unido y la empresa emergente estadounidense Vast, que construye la estación espacial Haven-1.
Poco después de la firma del acuerdo, la iniciativa recibió apoyo desde distintos sectores científicos y gubernamentales. Según The Guardian, diario británico, la misión contempla una estancia de dos semanas en la estación Haven-1, desarrollada por Vast en California. El proyecto busca reunir a cuatro astronautas en un entorno equipado con laboratorio de microgravedad y una ventana para observar la Tierra.
De acuerdo con el mismo medio, la Agencia Espacial del Reino Unido trabajará junto a la empresa emergente para asegurar patrocinios que financien el viaje del exdeportista. El traslado a la estación se realizaría en una cápsula Crew Dragon de SpaceX, utilizando un cohete Falcon 9. Como alternativa, el plan contempla una posible misión privada de Vast a la Estación Espacial Internacional (EEI) en 2027.
En 2008, McFall ganó la medalla de bronce en los 100 metros de los Juegos Paralímpicos de Beijing. 11 años antes, había perdido la pierna derecha en un accidente de motocicleta. Después de su recuperación, se dedicó al atletismo y más tarde se especializó en cirugía ortopédica en el Servicio Nacional de Salud británico (NHS).
En el año 2022, la Agencia Espacial Europea lo seleccionó para el proyecto Fly!, que investiga la viabilidad de que personas con discapacidades físicas participen en misiones espaciales de larga duración. El objetivo es evaluar tanto las condiciones físicas de los astronautas como el desempeño de las prótesis modernas en ambientes de microgravedad.
La misión de McFall va más allá del reto personal. Según The Guardian, su experiencia podría aportar datos sobre la adaptación de las prótesis en el espacio y mejorar el diseño de dispositivos más ligeros y funcionales. Además, el trabajo de investigación abordará afecciones como la osteoporosis y la atrofia muscular, frecuentes durante las estadías prolongadas en órbita.
“Es una oportunidad apasionante. Sacia mi curiosidad por el conocimiento y la ciencia”, dijo en declaraciones citadas por el medio británico. Añadió que ve el proyecto como un desafío personal y un avance social, ya que busca romper prejuicios sobre las capacidades de las personas con discapacidad física.
A nivel institucional, la Agencia Espacial del Reino Unido remarcó que la misión representa un avance hacia la inclusión. La participación de John allana el camino para futuras investigaciones y programas de rehabilitación enfocados en personas amputadas o con movilidad reducida.
La estación espacial Haven-1 ofrecerá un entorno controlado para examinar el impacto de la microgravedad sobre el cuerpo humano y la tecnología de las prótesis. Según Vast, empresa estadounidense, el interior de la estación estará revestido con madera de arce y contará con espacios adaptados para el trabajo científico y la vida cotidiana de los astronautas.
El astronauta británico Tim Peake, quien integró la misión Principia de la ESA en 2015-2016, expresó su emoción por el paso que se dará con John McFall: “Es una inspiración para todos aquellos a quienes alguna vez les han dicho que existen límites a lo que pueden lograr”, sostuvo. En paralelo, destacó que el acuerdo firmado marca un hito para los vuelos espaciales tripulados inclusivos.
Su presencia en la misión busca transmitir un mensaje sobre la diversidad y la igualdad de oportunidades en la exploración espacial. El propio exdeportista subrayó: “Estamos diciendo que está bien que las personas con discapacidad sean astronautas. Hemos demostrado que es posible».
La empresa prevé concluir la construcción de Haven-1 antes de 2027. El cronograma contempla pruebas de seguridad, selección de tripulantes y simulacros previos al lanzamiento. La decisión final sobre la participación de McFall dependerá de las evaluaciones médicas y técnicas realizadas por la ESA y la Agencia Espacial del Reino Unido.
astronauta,centro espacial nacional,ciencia,esa,espacio,exploración,j. mcfall,reino unido,tecnología,traje espacial
INTERNACIONAL
WATCH: Sanders lashes out at GOP ‘morality’ while rallying behind Dem with Nazi-linked tattoo
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., lashed out at towel-clad Republican staffers outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s (DSCC) headquarters this week after they confronted him and other top Dems over their support for scandal-plagued Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.
Video obtained by Fox News Digital shows the Republican protesters, including staffers from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), dressed in towels to mock a sexually suggestive Kik profile photo of Platner that showed the Democratic Senate hopeful shirtless with a towel around his waist.
«Do you support Graham Platner even though he’s on Kik?» one protester asked Sanders outside the DSCC headquarters in Washington, D.C., where Platner and other top Dems were seen entering and exiting to meet with the embattled candidate ahead of his June 9 primary.
Towel-clad GOP protesters hold signs targeting Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee headquarters, where Platner met with top Democrats amid scrutiny over his Kik profile, Nazi-linked tattoo and sexting scandals. (Nicholas Ballasy/Fox News Digital)
Platner’s campaign has been dogged by controversies, including a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol that he has since covered up, resurfaced Reddit posts that blamed rape victims, pushed racial stereotypes, mocked a Purple Heart veteran, and encouraged political violence, among other controversial comments on the popular blogging platform.
WATCH: DEM SENATORS EXCUSE PLATNER’S CONDUCT AT CRISIS HUDDLE WITH EMBATTLED MAINE CANDIDATE
Meanwhile, Platner’s issues continued just days ahead of his primary after it was reported Platner had exchanged sexually-explicit text messages with other women during his marriage and had an active Kik profile featuring a shirtless mirror selfie with a towel around his waist, a photo GOP staffers appeared to mock outside the DSCC by showing up in towels. Kik is an anonymous messaging app linked to child exploitation cases, which child-safety groups have criticized as a «predator’s paradise.»
Chants of «Platner is a creep!» and «Delete your Kik!» alongside signs that read «PEDO PLATNER MESSAGED KIDS» could be seen in video of the demonstration caught by Fox News Digital.
Republican staffers, including National Republican Senatorial Committee staffers, protest outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., wearing towels to mock Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s reported Kik profile photo. (Nicholas Ballasy/Fox News Digital)
«Are you with the Republican party?» Sanders shot back in response to the protester’s question about Platner’s Kik account.
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«It doesn’t matter,» the protester returned before Sanders lashed out about Republican «morality» amid the heated back-and-forth.
«Are you talking about morality and corruption? With President Trump?» Sanders shouted at the protesters as he pointed back at them. «Have a nice day,» he said before walking off.
Fox News Digital has found no evidence that Platner communicated with minors on Kik. The controversy surrounding the account centers on the app’s child-safety reputation, the sexually suggestive profile photo and its emergence alongside separate reporting about Platner’s sexually explicit messages with women during his marriage.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner stand together during a «Fighting Oligarchy» tour stop at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus in Orono, Maine, on May 24, 2026. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, Platner has disputed portions of the reporting surrounding his personal life, while his wife has criticized the disclosure of private details about their marriage. He has also apologized for past online comments and said the tattoo, which he has since covered, was obtained years ago without knowledge of its Nazi associations.
The confrontation outside the DSCC underscored the increasingly public effort by Republicans to turn Platner’s controversies into a liability for national Democrats, including Sanders and other top party figures who have continued to stand by him ahead of Maine’s June 9 Democratic Senate primary.
bernie sanders, issues, primary results, republicans elections, democrats senate
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