A newly released report by Israeli legal scholars provides compelling evidence that Hamas systematically employed sexual violence as a weapon of war during its October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, according to testimonies from survivors, forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts. The 120-page “A Quest for Justice” document, published by the Dinah Project—a research initiative led by Tel Aviv University’s Ruth Halperin-Kaddari—details multiple incidents of rape, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual violence across at least six distinct locations, including the Nova music festival site.

The report, which draws on interviews with 15 returned hostages and testimony from an attempted rape survivor at the Nova festival, represents one of the most detailed examinations to date of Hamas’s alleged use of sexual violence during the attack. While international observers have debated whether the evidence supports claims of systematic use, the Israeli researchers argue that the pattern of incidents—including live-streamed assaults and attacks on family members—demonstrates a coordinated strategy.

The findings come as the global conversation about war crimes in Gaza continues to evolve, with some UN officials cautioning against overgeneralizing from individual cases. However, the report’s authors contend that the sheer volume of corroborated accounts, combined with forensic and visual documentation, establishes a clear pattern of deliberate targeting.

Methodology and Evidence: How the Report Compiles Its Claims

The Dinah Project’s report is the product of a year-long investigation involving three prominent Israeli legal scholars:

• Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, a law professor at Bar-Ilan University and women’s rights activist, who has previously authored research on gender-based violence in conflict zones.
• Sharon Zagagi-Pinhas, a former chief military prosecutor in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with expertise in war crimes prosecutions.
• Nava Ben-Or, a former deputy attorney general of Israel and judge who has worked on high-profile human rights cases.

The team’s research was partially funded by the British government and Jewish nonprofit organizations, though the report itself maintains editorial independence. According to the authors, their methodology included:

• Direct interviews with 15 hostages who were either sexually assaulted or witnessed such assaults during their captivity or while escaping Hamas-controlled areas.
• Testimonies from first responders, including paramedics and police officers who treated survivors in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
• Analysis of forensic evidence collected from assault sites, including DNA samples and medical records.
• Review of audio and visual documentation, including social media posts and live streams that allegedly depicted sexual violence.
• Eyewitness accounts from at least 17 separate incidents across multiple locations, including kibbutzim, military bases, and civilian gathering points.

One of the most harrowing accounts comes from a survivor at the Nova music festival, where Hamas fighters allegedly targeted attendees after the initial attack. While the report does not name the survivor, it describes an attempted rape that was thwarted by other festivalgoers. The survivor’s testimony is among the few firsthand accounts to emerge from the festival site, which has become a symbol of the attack’s brutality.

Debate Over “Systematic” Use: International Reactions and Legal Implications

The report’s characterization of Hamas’s actions as “systematic” has sparked a contentious debate among legal experts and diplomats. While Israeli officials and the Dinah Project’s authors argue that the evidence demonstrates a deliberate military strategy, some United Nations observers have expressed skepticism, suggesting that individual cases of sexual violence do not necessarily prove systematic use under international law.

In a July 2025 statement, a UN official investigating war crimes in Gaza acknowledged the presence of rape and sexual assault cases but stated that the evidence did not yet support conclusions of systematic use. The official noted that determining whether acts are “systematic” requires proving a “coordinated policy” by militant leaders—a threshold that remains unmet in the current investigation.

Legal scholars point to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which defines crimes against humanity to include “extermination, enslavement, deportation, imprisonment, torture, rape, and other inhumane acts committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population.” The Dinah Project’s report argues that Hamas’s actions meet this definition, citing:

• The geographic spread of assaults across multiple locations.
• The temporal pattern, with incidents occurring during both the initial attack and subsequent captivity periods.
• The targeting of vulnerable groups, including women, children, and the elderly.
• Evidence of live-streaming and documentation, suggesting an intent to terrorize beyond immediate victims.

“The use of sexual violence as a weapon of war is not merely a byproduct of conflict—it is a deliberate tactic designed to break the will of a population. The evidence in this report demonstrates that Hamas understood this and acted accordingly.”

Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Co-Author of “A Quest for Justice”

Stakeholders and the Path Forward: What Happens Next?

The Dinah Project’s report is expected to play a significant role in ongoing legal proceedings, including:

• International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations: The ICC has opened a case against Hamas leadership for alleged war crimes, including sexual violence. The report’s findings could strengthen Israel’s position in presenting evidence to the court.
• Domestic Israeli prosecutions: While Hamas fighters are not currently under Israeli jurisdiction, the report may inform future legal strategies if Hamas leaders are ever brought to trial.
• UN fact-finding missions: The report’s detailed documentation could influence the UN’s ongoing assessments of war crimes in Gaza, particularly as debates continue over the definition of “systematic” violence.
• Survivor support networks: Organizations like RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline are already citing the report to advocate for increased mental health and legal resources for victims of sexual violence in conflict zones.

For survivors and their families, the report offers a measure of validation—but also raises difficult questions about accountability. “Justice is not just about naming what happened,” said one Israeli psychologist working with trauma survivors. “It’s about ensuring that those responsible are held to account and that survivors receive the care they desperately need.”

Key Questions About the Report

Next Steps: What to Watch For

The Dinah Project has committed to sharing its full database of evidence with international prosecutors, including the ICC and potential future tribunals. The next confirmed checkpoint is the June 2026 ICC pre-trial brief, where prosecutors are expected to outline their case against Hamas leadership. This brief will likely reference the Dinah Project’s findings, though it may not adopt the term “systematic” without further legal analysis.

In the meantime, Israeli authorities are reportedly reviewing the report’s evidence for potential use in domestic legal proceedings, particularly if Hamas fighters are ever captured. The report’s authors have also indicated they will present their findings to the UN Security Council in a closed-door briefing scheduled for June 15, 2026.