An independent commission has released a comprehensive report confirming that Hamas militants engaged in widespread sexual violence during the October 7 attack that ignited the ongoing Gaza conflict. The investigation, which gathered 430 personal testimonies and analyzed approximately 10,000 photographs and videos, found that acts of rape and sexual violence were systematic and intentional, used as instruments to intensify terror.

The attacks targeted both Israeli civilians and hostages taken into Gaza, with evidence indicating that sexual abuses were often perpetrated in front of family members, a tactic described by the commission as "kinocide." This pattern suggests that the violence was not incidental but rather a deliberate strategy employed by Hamas fighters.

For over two years, allegations of sexual violence have been met with widespread skepticism and denial. Certain public figures and organizations questioned or dismissed accounts from survivors and first responders. Among the skeptics was Roger Waters, the former Pink Floyd frontman and vocal pro-Palestinian advocate, who disputed the existence of such abuses, labeling first responders' reports as fabricated. Some international feminist groups also criticized the claims as unverified, undermining the principle of supporting survivors' testimonies.

The Jerusalem Post, commenting on the report, declared that the period of denial was now definitively over. The publication emphasized that the volume and consistency of evidence presented by the commission leave little room for doubt about the reality of the abuses.

The commission behind the report urges the international community to move beyond denial toward accountability and justice. The investigators stress that acknowledging the truth is essential to honoring the victims and addressing the crimes committed during the attacks.

The findings mark a significant development in the understanding of the October 7 events, highlighting the use of sexual violence as a calculated tactic of warfare. The report calls for recognition of this dimension of the conflict as part of broader efforts to ensure that such atrocities are documented and condemned.