False claims of Hamas sexual violence on October 7 exposed: AP investigation

Published May 22nd, 2024 - 03:59 GMT
Sexual violence accusations
Relatives and supporters of Israelis taken hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza in the October 7 attacks have fake blood on their bodies ahead of a die-in during a demonstration calling for their release in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on May 18, 2024. AFP
Highlights
Chaim Otmazgin's widely circulated accounts of such acts were found to be baseless. Similarly, Yossi Landau, an Israeli volunteer in the Be'eri settlement, recounted a scandalous story about the events of October 7, which also proved to be unfounded.

ALBAWABA- In a recent investigation, the Associated Press revealed that allegations of sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7 have turned out to be untrue. 

Chaim Otmazgin's widely circulated accounts of such acts were found to be baseless. Similarly, Yossi Landau, an Israeli volunteer in the Be'eri settlement, recounted a scandalous story about the events of October 7, which also proved to be unfounded.

A ZAKA spokesperson mentioned that they had requested Landau to cease spreading the false story, but he only responded three months later. 

One Israeli who initially accused Hamas of sexual violence clarified, "It's not that I invented a story, but it turned out to be different, and I corrected it."

Despite these serious allegations, the AP reports that no convincing evidence has been published to support claims of sexual violence by Hamas during the October 7 incident. 

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