regarding Mandoweiss's article: This is a pathetic example of journalism (if we want to call it that). If anybody is serious, they will read the actual report. Here are a few quotes. In my opinion they show certain things. Yes, it's true that a "legal" definition of proof is not really present. However, after having seen hundreds of photos the investigators said they had seen quite a few in which a victim (usually a woman) was stripped from the waist down. Now, that is not "legal proof" of sexual abuse, but you can draw your own conclusion. The investigators also went to the West Bank and reported on complaints of sexual abuse (although not including rape) by Palestinian women... but of course the investigators were just doing a whitewash job of Israel as the Mandoweiss article implies. (Not) Here's some quotes from the actual report. I think these sections show that this was not just some whitewash job:
12. Based on the information gathered by the mission team from multiple and independent sources, there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the 7 October attacks in multiple locations across Gaza periphery, including rape and gang rape, in at least three locations. Across the various locations of the 7 October attacks, the mission team found that several fully naked or partially naked bodies from the waist down were recovered – mostly women – with hands tied and shot multiple times, often in the head. Although circumstantial, such a pattern of undressing and restraining of victims may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence. 14. The mission team conducted a visit to kibbutz Be’eri and was able to determine that at least two allegations of sexual violence widely repeated in the media, were unfounded due to either new superseding information or inconsistency in the facts gathered. These included a highly publicized allegation of a pregnant woman whose womb had reportedly been ripped open before being killed, with her fetus stabbed while still inside her. Other allegations, including of objects intentionally inserted into female genital organs, could not be verified by the mission team due in part to limited and low-quality imagery. 23. …. The mission team also requested to visit the occupied West Bank to engage with the Palestinian Authority and civil society organizations, following reports of sexual violence against Palestinians, especially detainees received through UN sources, since the 7 October attacks. The SRSG-SVC met with the representative of the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the UN on two occasions prior to the visit. 31..... The mission team did not consider for the purpose of this report accounts collected by Israeli intelligence bodies, including those related to interrogations of alleged perpetrators, despite some being offered, due to the mission team’s inability in the time allotted to establish the due process rights of the accused person and adequate authentication. 33. The mission team met with a wide range of national authorities including the President of Israel and the First Lady, relevant line ministries including Foreign Affairs, Welfare and Social Affairs, Health, and Justice. …. 34. The mission team, specifically the forensic pathologist and the digital analyst, reviewed over 5,000 photos, around 50 hours and several audio files of footage of the attacks, provided partly by various state agencies and through an independent online review of various open sources, to identify potential instances and indications of conflict-related sexual violence. The content encompassed the actual attacks and their immediate aftermath, captured through militants’ bodycams and dashcams, individual cellphones, CCTV, and traffic surveillance cameras. 35. Though the material provided by national agencies appeared to be authentic and unmanipulated, it could not always be independently verified by the mission team. Efforts were made to verify the most important pieces of digital evidence gathered by the mission team. For the purpose of this report, only items found to be reliable and related to the 7 October attacks were considered. 38. Regarding the occupied Palestinian Territory, the mission team visited Ramallah in the occupied West Bank and engaged with the Palestinian Authority and civil society organizations to hear their views and concerns on allegations of conflict-related sexual violence received by the mandate, allegedly committed by Israeli security forces and settlers. The mission team met with relevant line ministries of the Palestinian Authority, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Detainees and Ex-Detainee Affairs, Women’s Affairs, Social Development, and Labor. The mission team also met with the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights and conducted four meetings with civil society representatives and NGOs. It met with and interviewed four recently released detainees. 59. Faced with the attacks, Nova music festival goers and other residents reportedly fled along various escape routes including Road 232 and the surrounding fields. Along Road 232, numerous bodies with severe injuries such as multiple gunshot wounds and destructive burn damage were found, including in and around damaged or burned vehicles, as well as piled in several bomb shelters. 60. There are reasonable grounds to believe that sexual violence occurred on and around Road 232. Credible information based on corroborating witness accounts describes an incident involving the rape of two women. The mission team received other accounts of rape, including gang rape, which could not be verified during the time provided and would require further investigation. Along this road, several bodies were found with genital injuries, along with injuries to other body parts. Discernible patterns of genital mutilation could not be verified at this time but warrant future investigation. Many bodies along Road 232 also suffered destructive burn damage and conclusions as to conflict-related sexual violence (including genital mutilation) related to these incidents could not be drawn. The mission team was also able to ascertain that multiple bodies of women and a few men were found totally or partially naked or with their clothes torn, including some bound and/or attached to structures, which – though circumstantial – may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence. 61. Nova music festival goers also attempted to escape to the south and sought shelter in and around kibbutz Re’im, about 2 km southwest of the Nova music festival site. There are reasonable grounds to believe that sexual violence occurred in kibbutz Re’im, including rape. This included the rape of a woman outside of a bomb shelter at the entrance of kibbutz Re’im, which was corroborated by witness testimonies and digital material. Within the kibbutz itself, in one area close to the entrance, the bodies of at least two women were found inside a home, on the floor and naked, with gunshot wounds to their heads. Witness testimony gathered for this area is consistent with possible sexual violence, however, these could not be verified in the time provided and would require further investigation. 64. The mission team examined several allegations of sexual violence. It must be noted that witnesses and sources with whom the mission team engaged adopted over time an increasingly cautious and circumspect approach regarding past accounts, including in some cases retracting statements made previously. Some also stated to the mission team that they no longer felt confident in their recollections of other assertions that had appeared in the media. 65. At least two of the allegations of sexual violence previously reported were determined by the mission team to be unfounded, due to either new superseding information or inconsistency in the information gathered, including first responder testimonies, photographic evidence and other information. These included the allegation of a pregnant woman whose womb had reportedly been ripped open before she was killed, with her fetus stabbed while still inside her. Another such account was the interpretation initially made of the body of a girl found separated from the rest of her family, naked from the waist down. It was determined by the mission team that the crime scene had been altered by a bomb squad and the bodies moved, explaining the separation of the body of the girl from the rest of her family. Allegations of objects found inserted in female genital organs also could not be verified by the mission team due in large part to the limited availability and low quality of imagery. *76. The reviewed photos and videos revealed widespread mutilation of bodies, involving both attempted and actual decapitation, numerous gunshot wounds, and various other forms of extensive violence. The medicolegal assessment of available photos and videos revealed multiple corpses with injuries, predominantly gunshot wounds, including to intimate body parts such as breasts and genitalia. Because in most instances additional injuries were also seen on other body parts, no discernible pattern of genital mutilation could be established.* *77. The digital evidence discovered during independent open-source review appeared authentic and unmanipulated. While the mission team reviewed extensive digital material depicting a range of egregious violations, no digital evidence specifically depicting acts of sexual violence was found in open sources. Nonetheless, some digital material of circumstantial elements such as naked or partially naked bodies may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence.* *14 Claims were made in the public domain that directives, including pamphlets with instructions on pronouncing phrases in Hebrew such as ‘Open your legs’ or ‘Take off your pants’ and a manual on ‘How to take captives’, were allegedly found by IDF on bodies of deceased militants. However, the mission team was not able to substantiate any of them. * *80. During meetings, stakeholders in the occupied West Bank described a dramatic deterioration of the human rights situation following the 7 October attacks, with the launch of law enforcement operations by the Israeli government being accompanied by mass arrests and a spike in settler violence.* As of February 2024, according to the Israel Prison Service, there are nearly 9,000 Palestinians in Israeli custody, including 3,484 administrative detainees (39 per cent) held without trial.15 81. Stakeholders indicated that the detention of Palestinian men and women has been compounded by alleged instances of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including increased instances of various forms of sexual violence in the form of invasive body searches of detainees which include unwanted touching of intimate areas and forced unveiling of women wearing Hijab; beatings, including in the genital areas; threats of rape against women and threats of rape against female family members (wives, sisters, daughters) in the case of men; and inappropriate strip search and prolonged forced nudity of detainees, including during interrogation and during transfer to other detention facilities. Other concerns raised included the taking and circulating of pictures of women detainees on personal phones of soldiers and investigators and depriving women of menstruation products. These interlocutors also reported sexual harassment and threats of rape, during house raids – including at night – and at checkpoints. They also highlighted intimidation, including threats of rape, if conditions of detention were reported or publicly disclosed after liberation. While no instances of rape were reported, Palestinian women’s organizations consistently stressed that in addition to intimidation and insecurity, the high level of stigmatization, conservative cultural norms and the power imbalance in the context of occupation impedes reporting of sexual violence. Even the conspiracy theorists are right once in awhile. This is one of those times when they say "do your own research". Here's how to do it. Read the report itself: https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/report/mission-report-official-visit-of-the-office-of-the-srsg-svc-to-israel-and-the-occupied-west-bank-29-january-14-february-2024/20240304-Israel-oWB-CRSV-report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2I1-Dpfc_MZvv-zvAloqUz1pnHfpuMbrNWzCAcrq1LtNW3XusrOjhYnPE -- *“Science and socialism go hand-in-hand.” *Felicity Dowling Check out:https:http://oaklandsocialist.com also on Facebook -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. 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