# 7Democracy Dies Behind Paywalls  ## Metadata - Author: [[archive.ph]] - Full Title: 7Democracy Dies Behind Paywalls - Category: #articles - Summary: insert summary - My notes: - Summary: Critics deny widespread sexual assaults against Israeli women on October 7. Allegations of systematic sexual violence have been dismissed by some as unsubstantiated. Left-wing activists and journalists question the evidence and legitimacy of the reported attacks. - URL: https://archive.ph/BUMGO ## Highlights > The group put together [a report](https://archive.ph/o/BUMGO/https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/news/arcci-submits-first-report-to-un-21-feb-2024/en/English_Swords_of_Iron_DOCUMENTS_Sexual%20violence%20crimes%20on%20Ocober%207-Feb.%202024.pdf) combining the information it was receiving (mainly from eyewitnesses and first responders) with media reporting in Israel and around the world. “Hamas’s attack on October 7th included brutal sexual assaults carried out systematically and deliberately against Israeli civilians,” it concluded. “Hamas terrorists employed sadistic practices aimed at intensifying the degree of humiliation and terror inherent in sexual violence ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hvtj8kqk22qm95yxet923bw1)) > The next month, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict [reached similar conclusions](https://archive.ph/o/BUMGO/https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/report/mission-report-official-visit-of-the-office-of-the-srsg-svc-to-israel-and-the-occupied-west-bank-29-january-14-february-2024/20240304-Israel-oWB-CRSV-report.pdf), although without using the word *systematic*. After a two-and-a-half-week mission to Israel, the UN body concluded that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the 7 October attacks.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hvtjbvyxy6a6ew7p3dpj8ska))