The head of the UN children's agency UNICEF has condemned the acts of sexual violence committed against women during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 - a condemnation that Israel considers insufficient, AFP reported.
In recent days, anger over allegations of rape and other forms of sexual violence has grown, with US President Joe Biden calling on governments and international organizations to "condemn unequivocally the sexual violence of Hamas terrorists".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly accused the Palestinian militant group of such actions, said that in a meeting with hostages released by Hamas, he had heard "of cases of sexual violence and brutal rape".
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell called the cases of sexual violence "appalling".
"Survivors must be listened to, supported and cared for," she added.
"The allegations must be fully investigated. We condemn gender-based violence and all forms of violence against women and girls."
However, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Hayat said the statement was too short and came too late, criticizing "the fact that it took UNICEF almost two months to say something about the Israeli victims... (and) only after international campaign and pressure".
"The fact that she (Russell) did not mention the terrorist organization Hamas is yet another way she turns a blind eye to the atrocities that the organization has committed," he added, stating that "by not mentioning Hamas by name, she is legitimizing their actions." .
Israel declared war on Hamas after the militant group's attacks on October 7, which Israeli officials said killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages.
The latest death toll, provided by the Hamas government's media office, said 16,248 people, most of them women and children, had been killed since the start of Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza.
Israeli government spokesman Eilon Levy said it was "inexcusable that some still prefer to deny, downplay or ignore" sex crimes committed by Hamas. /BGNES
