Israeli army spokesman declines to confirm German foreign minister's claims on alleged Hamas rape footage

By Esat Firat

JERUSALEM (AA) - An Israeli army spokesman declined to confirm the German foreign minister's Sunday claims that she saw footage filmed by a Hamas member of an Israeli woman being raped on Oct. 7, 2023.

Asked by an Anadolu reporter, if such footage exists and if so why it has not been made public until now, Avichay Adraee said: “I cannot speak on this issue, I am not in a position to confirm or deny what the German foreign minister said."

Referring to a report by UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten following a study in Israel and the occupied West Bank, Adraee said: “However, due to the confidentiality of the situation, I cannot make an official comment on this (Baerbock's remarks).

"As I said, I cannot comment on this, so I neither confirm nor deny it."

He argued that officials, decision-makers, journalists, influencers, and activists have been shown footage on this issue, and said: "Whether the German foreign minister said it or not, I am not the person to comment on it."

Israel has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.

The military campaign has turned much of the enclave of 2.3 million people into ruins, leaving most civilians homeless and at risk of famine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul