"Why Are You Afraid Of Actual Investigations?": Palestinian Ambassador To Israel On Hamas Sexual Violence On October 7 (image@Palestine_UN)
Palestinian ambassador to UN, Riyad Mansour called out the allegation of rape against Hamas resistance group of Gaza. during a United Nations Meeting, the Mansour raised the question that if Israel has nothing to hide, why are they afraid of actual investigation.
Even though the celebrated news article of New York Times on Hamas used rape as a weapon on the October 7th attack was visibly debunked, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG), Pramila Patten alleged that there are “reasonable grounds to believe” that sexual violence, including gang rape occurred during the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. Hamas rejected the accusations by calling it “false” and “baseless”.
Calling out the double standard shown towards the Palestinians, Mansour said, for decades, the reports and investigations on sexual assault against Palestinian women, men, girls and boys have not led to the convening of a single council meeting on the matter, while merely a week after the report on Hamas using sexual violence against Israelis has reached UN, a council meeting was convened to discuss the matter. He said the he hope council meeting will mark a change and see into the matter in a more unbiased manner.
Citing the report submitted by SRSG, Mansour said none of the entities was called to present their findings on the sexual violence against Palestinians. he then invited the SRSG to visit Gaza, and seek a report on the sexual violence and other atrocities done to the Gazans by the Israeli occupation.
Quoting the SRSG from her report that she was not able to interview any of the victims of the alleged sexual violence, during her trip which was not mandated as an investigation trip, Mansour recommended that the Israeli government should allow the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights and Independent International Commission of Enquiry access to the occupied Palestine including the East Jerusalem to carry out a full-fledged investigations into all alleged violations.
The Palestinian Ambassador declare and challenged the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights and Independent International Commission of Enquiry come and investigate the issue. He said he would like to see who will facilitate and who will obstruct the investigation. He said he expect the session to demand Israel, who kept chanting that they “have nothing to hide” to do the same.
Mansour asked “if you (Israel) have nothing to hide why are you afraid of the investigation”.
