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A bipartisan group of 33 senators has requested the United Nations to initiate an investigation into the sexual violence that occurred during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.

They wrote, “An investigation is a necessary step to hold perpetrators accountable, support survivors, and provide justice for victims.” This call is led by Senators Jacky Rosen, Joni Ernst, Kirsten Gillibrand, Susan Collins, and Ben Cardin.

The senators pointed out evidence of sexual violence during the attack, with Israeli police reporting over 1,500 testimonies and forensic evidence of rape and sexual assault. One testimony described a gang rape at the Nova music festival site, where video footage showed mutilated bodies exhibiting signs of sexual violence.

The senators expressed their shock at the delayed response from UN Women, stating, “Sexual violence, particularly on this scale and of this level of brutality, must be condemned unequivocally and without qualification, which is why we were shocked that it took UN Women nearly two months to speak out about these atrocities.” President Biden echoed these sentiments, condemning the use of sexual violence in the war and emphasizing that it’s on everyone, including governments and international organizations, to denounce these acts.

The issue has also sparked internal debates within the Democratic Party. Representative Pramila Jayapal called the alleged rapes “horrific” but advocated for a “balanced” approach in recognizing the pain caused by the ongoing war.