Military forensic teams in Israel have examined bodies of victims of last week’s Hamas attack on communities around the Gaza Strip and found multiple signs of torture, rape, and other atrocities. Around 1,300 bodies have been brought to an army base in Ramla in central Israel where forensic checks are being conducted by specialist teams. Rabbi Israel Weiss, former army chief rabbi, one of the officials overseeing the identification of the dead, stated that around 90% of the military dead have been identified and teams are halfway through identifying civilians. He also mentioned that many bodies showed signs of torture as well as rape.
Avigayil, a reserve warrant officer, reported that they have seen dismembered bodies with limbs chopped off, as well as beheaded victims, including a child. Multiple cases of rape were also found through forensic examination of the bodies, which have been stored in refrigerated containers. Captain Maayan, a military dentist involved in the identification process, expressed that they witness severe stages of abuse, including gunshots and signs of pure torture. However, no forensic evidence in the form of pictures or medical records was presented by the military personnel overseeing the identification process.
Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, has denied accusations of abuse. The attack by hundreds of Hamas gunmen on October 7 caused profound shock in Israel due to the unprecedented number of casualties and the horrifying footage of the assault. In response, Israeli jets and artillery have launched a bombardment on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of over 2,200 Palestinians and the destruction of numerous buildings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has compared Hamas to the Islamic State, drawing parallels with their campaign of public beheadings in Syria and Iraq.
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