https://themessenger.com/news/hostages-sexually-assaulted-hamas-israel-rape-abuse
A doctor who treated some of the 110 hostages released by Hamas says at least 10 of them were sexually assaulted or abused, the first apparent medical confirmation that the terror group raped hostages while they were in captivity.
He spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press and did not provide further details about what he saw.
Freed hostages also reported witnessing instances of horrific sexual violence during a meeting with the Israeli war cabinet on Tuesday, including against males in captivity.
The Israeli military says 138 hostages, including 15 women, are still held by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza.
Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army is “absolutely” concerned about sexual violence against female hostages.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said this week that Hamas may be holding onto some hostages so they can’t talk about the sexual abuse they suffered.
“It seems one of the reasons they don’t want to turn women over they’ve been holding hostage, and the reason this pause fell apart, is they don’t want those women to be able to talk about what happened to them during their time in custody,” Miller said on Monday.