U.N. says "reasonable grounds to believe" Hamas carried out sexual attacks on Oct. 7, and likely still is

A United Nations report released Monday said there were "reasonable grounds to believe" sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, occurred at several locations during Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel. The report by the U.N.'s special envoy on sexual violence Pramila Patten said there was also reason to believe sexual abuse of Israeli hostages still believed to be held in Gaza was "ongoing."

"Credible circumstantial information, which may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence, including genital mutilation, sexualized torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, was also gathered," the 24-page U.N. report said.

Hamas rejected the allegations in the new report, as it has done since claims of sexual violence first emerged soon after the Oct. 7 attack.