What’s happening:

Israeli officials are pressing the United Nations to acknowledge and condemn the sexual violence allegedly perpetrated by Hamas against Israeli women and girls during the October 7 terror attacks.

Why it matters:

The claims suggest that the UN is potentially downplaying the severity of actions attributed to Hamas in order to maintain a narrative that paints Israel as the primary aggressor in the conflict.

Details:

At a UN meeting in Geneva, Israeli representatives voiced concerns that the sexual crimes committed during the Hamas-led attacks on Israeli border communities have not been adequately recognized or condemned by international human rights bodies.

The big picture:

The accusations of sexual violence are part of a broader discussion on the nature of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with implications for how the international community perceives and responds to the actions of both parties.

What they’re saying:

Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, an Israeli professor, expressed disappointment at the UN’s failure to strongly condemn these actions and assert there’s no justification for using the bodies of women as a weapon of war.

On the ground:

In Israel, investigations have begun following the discovery of evidence suggesting victims were sexually assaulted, some found disrobed and mutilated. Hamas has denied these allegations.

UN’s stance:

While the UN human rights office has labeled the October 7 attacks as “heinous, brutal and shocking,” it has mentioned that Israel has not granted access to its monitors to investigate these claims directly.

Bottom line:

The Israeli authorities are seeking an impartial international inquiry into the allegations of sexual violence, urging the UN to live up to its responsibility to independently verify facts and issue appropriate condemnations.

This story was first published on foxnews.com.