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(SeaPRwire) - The head of the World Health Organization announced a meeting of his emergency committee regarding the "scale and speed" of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda on Tuesday.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cited data showing that more than 500 suspected cases have been reported in the DRC in recent weeks, with 33 confirmed cases. In Uganda, there have been two confirmed cases. So far, the outbreak has resulted in 131 deaths."I'm deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic," Tedros said in a statement issued on Tuesday.Tedros is scheduled to meet with the WHO's Emergency Committee later on Tuesday.Several factors have raised concerns within the WHO about the potential for further spread, including cases in urban areas such as Kampala, Uganda, and Goma in the DRC, as well as the conflict-affected province of Ituri.The WHO has approved $3.9 million in emergency funding to support national authorities in their response efforts.The organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency on Sunday, followed shortly by an urgent travel warning issued by the U.S. government for the DRC on Monday.Officials confirmed that the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rarer variant for which existing vaccines may be less effective.The State Department describes Ebola as a "rare, severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever illness."The virus spreads through direct contact with infected individuals, bodily fluids, infected corpses, and objects contaminated with the virus."The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Ituri province," the advisory stated. "Do not travel to this area for any reason."This development occurs as global health officials continue monitoring a rare hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has sickened multiple passengers and crew members and led to three fatalities.As of May 13, the WHO reported 11 hantavirus cases associated with the cruise outbreak, including eight confirmed cases, two probable cases, and one inconclusive case.' Andrea Margolis and Michael Sinkewicz and Reuters contributed to this report. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - Rescuers located the bodies of four Italian divers deep within an underwater cave in the Maldives, days after the group vanished during a dangerous dive far beyond recreational limits, Italy’s Foreign Ministry reported Monday.Officials confirmed that Finnish cave-diving specialists discovered the bodies in the innermost section of the cave system in Vaavu Atoll, where the divers disappeared Thursday while exploring at a depth of approximately 160 feet. The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 98 feet."As previously believed, the four bodies were found inside the cave—not just inside but well into the third segment of the cave, which is the largest part," Maldives government spokesman Ahmed Shaam stated, adding that the victims were found "pretty much together."The Thinwana Kandu cave system where the bodies were found is locally known as the "shark cave."Recovery crews intend to retrieve two bodies on Tuesday and the remaining two the following day, officials announced.The discovery followed the resumption of the search after the death of a Maldivian military diver involved in the rescue mission. Mohamed Mahdi died Saturday from decompression sickness while attempting to reach the trapped divers.A fifth Italian diver, earlier identified as a diving instructor, was previously found dead outside the cave.The specialized Finnish team utilized advanced closed-circuit rebreather systems, enabling longer and deeper dives within the confined environment of the cave.Rough seas and hazardous underwater conditions repeatedly delayed search operations as crews mapped and marked the cave entrance before advancing further inside.Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances and what led to the divers' deaths. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - Canadian health officials confirmed on Sunday that one of four Canadians who had returned from the MV Hondius cruise ship—the center of an international Andes hantavirus outbreak—tested positive for hantavirus. Three individuals linked to the outbreak have died.The Public Health Agency of Canada verified the diagnosis after British Columbia’s chief public health officer initially described it as a "presumptive positive" case."One individual’s sample has been confirmed positive for hantavirus," the agency stated.Officials indicated that further testing would be conducted at a national laboratory, though it was unclear at the time whether this would be for confirmation, strain analysis, or another purpose.This update comes as global health authorities continue monitoring the rare hantavirus outbreak associated with the MV Hondius, which has affected multiple passengers.As of May 13, the World Health Organization reported 11 cases connected to the cruise outbreak: eight confirmed, two probable, and one inconclusive. Among them were three fatalities. The Associated Press later noted that Canada’s confirmation raised the total number of ship passengers who tested positive to 10.Four Canadians had traveled on the MV Hondius and returned home, but only one has tested positive for the virus.The confirmed patient and their traveling companion—a couple in their 70s from Yukon—had returned together. Officials confirmed the companion later tested negative.A third person in their 70s from Vancouver Island remains isolated, along with a British Columbia resident in their 50s.No confirmed U.S. cases related to the cruise ship have been reported so far. However, as of May 13, the WHO said one U.S.-repatriated passenger had inconclusive lab results and was undergoing retesting.Last week, health officials in Ontario County, New York, announced they were investigating a suspected locally acquired hantavirus case unrelated to the cruise ship.The Ontario County Public Health Department emphasized there was no risk to the general public and noted that the strain commonly seen in the United States does not spread from person to person.The outbreak tied to the MV Hondius began after the Dutch cruise ship, carrying 147 passengers and crew, departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic journey.The incident has prompted heightened precautions internationally, including in the Netherlands, where Radboud University Medical Center placed 12 staff members under quarantine after authorities found that blood and urine samples from a hantavirus patient had not been handled according to the strictest recommended protocols for the virus strain.The outbreak has also drawn comparisons to the coronavirus pandemic. However, senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel previously told Digital that there is "no comparison."He explained that hantavirus is difficult to transmit."It's not airborne ... in terms of respiratory droplets hanging in the air," he said. "Transmission is very difficult."While the coronavirus "moved in the direction of humans in a significant way," hantavirus has not—except for "very rare" instances of human-to-human transmission, he added.The World Health Organization assesses the overall risk to the global population as low. However, current evidence suggests possible subsequent human-to-human transmission occurred aboard the ship. The Andes virus is the only hantavirus known to have documented person-to-person transmission, though such spread remains uncommon.Siegel also pointed out that hantavirus cases have been recorded in the United States for decades, though they remain "very rare."Contributions to this report were made by Digital’s Brittany Miller and Angelica Stabile, along with The Associated Press. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the shadow commander of ISIS in West Africa, was eliminated on May 16 via a method that an extremism analyst identifies as one of the most difficult types of intelligence for targets to detect—following years of protection by "deep local networks" throughout the region.Though this elimination struck one of the most significant blows to ISIS’s global network in recent years, disrupting activities in northeastern Nigeria, the terrorist group’s top leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, remains at large as Africa emerges as the movement’s global hub."There isn’t a single ISIS headquarters in Nigeria; ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) runs dozens of small, mobile camps spread across the Lake Chad islands and the Borno wilderness," Dr. Omar Mohammed, Senior Research Fellow at the GW Program on Extremism, told Digital."Al-Minuki likely did not use smartphones, instead depending on courier-driven communication and frequent travel between these small camps," he said.President Donald Trump’s clear mention of "sources who kept us informed" directly refers to human intelligence (HUMINT), which is the most challenging type of intelligence for a target to spot or counteract, Mohammed clarified.The precision strike managed to break through defenses that had been in place for years."He likely used deep local networks that the Nigerian military has found it hard to penetrate for more than a decade," Mohammed added."His operational security was likely strict," Mohammed stated. "But two factors eventually bring down even cautious targets: time creates patterns, and human sources are very hard to overcome.""Even with strict operational security, al-Minuki was finally exposed via consistent human intelligence," he pointed out. "Al-Minuki was aware he was a target."The Nigerian army characterized the strike as "a carefully planned and highly complex precision air-land operation" conducted on Saturday between midnight and 4 a.m. in Metele, a town in Borno State in northeastern Nigeria.U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the strike occurred in northeastern Nigeria, while Nigerian army communications specified the Metele area.In spite of this tactical victory, the current ISIS "caliph"—or overall leader—continues to be at large, per reports.Al-Qurashi was "appointed after his predecessor died in Syria," Mohammed asserted."He intentionally keeps his identity hidden, with analysts referring to this series of leaders as the ‘caliphs of the shadows,’" Mohammed said, adding that al-Qurashi took over leadership after Turkish authorities killed his predecessor in 2023.Although al-Qurashi’s precise whereabouts are unclear, reports suggest he journeyed from Syria or Iraq through Yemen to Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region."This is also where the financial hub is located, which means the entire core of the organization—leadership, finance, operational guidance—has been quietly moving to Africa over the past several years," Mohammed explained.Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project supports this regional shift, revealing that over two-thirds of all global Islamic State activity now occurs in Africa."Africa has moved from being a secondary theater to the operational and financial heart of global ISIS activity," Mohammed said. "Africa is no longer a peripheral area; it’s the primary one. Funding is mostly local and comes from extractive activities—taxation, ransom payments, smuggling—which is exactly why these networks are so tough to break.""Al-Minuki, for instance, climbed the ranks in ISWAP and operated across the Lake Chad Basin and into the broader Sahel region," he noted."Even so, targeting al-Minuki is the most impactful hit to ISIS’ global leadership structure since the 2019 al-Baghdadi raid, which took place in the theater that has quietly become the group’s core," Mohammed stated, then added that the strike was "not an isolated military action." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - The U.S.-brokered alliance aimed at countering Iran in the Middle East is experiencing strain amid rising tensions between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, according to an analyst, as the risk of a wider conflict with Tehran grows on Sunday.Disagreements first emerged on May 13 after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office claimed he had a "historic breakthrough" meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a "secret visit" to Al Ain near the Oman border.In response, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly denied the report.The ministry stated, "Our relations with Israel are public and were established under the framework of the well-known and publicly announced Abraham Accords. These relations do not rely on secrecy or covert arrangements."It further added, "Therefore, any claims about undisclosed visits or secret deals are unfounded unless officially issued by the relevant UAE authorities.""The stakes are high," Middle East Institute analyst Natan Sachs told Digital."I expect the Israelis are working hard to repair ties with the UAE, but it's still too early to assess the situation," he said.President Donald Trump spoke with Netanyahu on Sunday amid escalating tensions over Iran, with the Israeli leader stating he was "ready for every scenario."The leaders discussed the possibility of restarting hostilities with Iran, as well as Trump’s recent trip to China, according to the Times of Israel.Sachs, a senior fellow at the institute, described Netanyahu’s claim of the UAE meeting as "a diplomatic blunder because it embarrasses the UAE.""This was an unusual move, especially since the UAE has been a close partner of Israel, even during this war," Sachs said."Either Netanyahu acted without thinking, or he may have been focused on something else — possibly domestic politics. This wouldn't be the first time he did so.""If Emirati anger is genuine, it would mean efforts are needed to maintain trust with their Gulf Arab ally," Sachs added."I also can't rule out that the UAE is upset about the leak itself, which could be seen as a breach of trust — a matter of great importance to Emirati leadership."The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States in 2020, reshaped the regional landscape by normalizing relations between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.Security cooperation has significantly expanded since then due to shared concerns over Iran’s military ambitions.That alliance was tested when Iran launched attacks on UAE military and energy facilities during Operation Epic Fury.Israel reportedly deployed Iron Dome air-defense systems and personnel to the UAE, according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The UAE confirmed on Sunday that it had intercepted three drones approaching from the west."The UAE bore much of the brunt from Iran. It is the most vulnerable to Iranian short-range missiles, which are more numerous and affordable than the medium-range missiles fired at Israel," Sachs said."While short-range missiles can be intercepted, Iran possesses far greater quantities. The UAE suffered the heaviest impact, yet it distinguished itself by firmly upholding its policy of open partnership with Israel.""But the public revelation that Netanyahu himself made the visit may have crossed a line," Sachs concluded. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III was "shocked and saddened" upon learning of the death of a British soldier who fell during a performance by the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this week.The incident occurred on Friday evening when the unidentified soldier left the arena after the display. Despite receiving treatment, their injuries proved fatal, with Thames Valley Police confirming the death took place at the scene.The police stated that while the horse show would continue as scheduled on Saturday, no further performances by the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery would be held.King Charles attended the event, which is hosted on the grounds of Windsor Castle, accompanied by his younger brother Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, along with their daughter Lady Louise—who was participating in the show—and Princess Anne.After the tragic incident, the king met with members of the King’s Troop upon returning to the horse show on Saturday."Although His Majesty and other royal family members were present in the arena when the incident occurred, they were not informed of its severity until later," Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, according to The London Times.The spokesperson added: "The King was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the troop member's death and intends to reach out personally to offer his condolences to the family. The entire royal family extends their heartfelt sympathies to the victim’s loved ones and fellow military personnel during this difficult time."Buckingham Palace had not responded to Digital’s after-hours request for comment at the time of reporting.The annual Royal Windsor Horse Show is unique in being the only occasion when the private grounds of Windsor Castle are opened to the public.On Saturday morning, police issued an appeal for information regarding what they described as the soldier’s "unexplained but non-suspicious death." In a Facebook post, authorities clarified: "At this stage, there is no evidence of suspicious circumstances. We are collaborating closely with the British Army, Ministry of Defence, the Defence Accident Investigation Branch, and the event organizers HPower to gather comprehensive details about how the incident unfolded." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - A 38-year-old man passed away on Saturday following a shark attack in Australia involving a 13-foot predator.According to police, the incident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. at Horseshoe Reef, situated near Rottnest Island off the country's western coast.The island lies approximately 19 miles west of Perth.Although the victim was transported to the shore, he remained unresponsive and could not be resuscitated."It is believed that a 38-year-old man was bitten by a shark while in the water at Horseshoe Reef," a representative for St. John WA Ambulance informed People."The individual was transported by boat to the shore, where he was attended to by St. John WA paramedics. Regrettably, he could not be revived."Digital has contacted St. John WA Ambulance for further comment.This marks the second fatal shark attack in Australia this year.As reported by BBC News, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Perth has advised the public to exercise "additional caution" when in the vicinity.The agency further identified the shark as a great white.Video footage captured by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation depicts police and rescue personnel at the scene with a boat.In January, a 12-year-old boy died one week after being attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbor.During that same two-day period, three other individuals were involved in non-fatal shark attacks along the coast of New South Wales.Reuters contributed to this report. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - The Lebanese government lodged a strongly worded complaint with the United Nations, contending that the Islamic Republic of Iran has misused diplomatic immunity by refusing to recall its ambassador after Beirut demanded his expulsion and to cease alleged terrorist activities on Lebanese soil, according to a recently revealed letter from late April.The disclosure of this letter, which is reportedly an unprecedented action by Lebanon, occurs amidst a second day of discussions in Washington between Israel and Lebanon aimed at normalizing relations (the two countries are in a state of war) and dismantling the Iranian-regime-backed Hezbollah terrorist movement in Lebanon.A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Digital on Friday that "The United States-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon have resumed today and are ongoing. The atmosphere of talks has been very positive, even exceeding expectations."State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott posted on X on Friday that "On May 14 and 15, the United States hosted two days of highly productive talks between Israel and Lebanon. The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress. The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June 2 and June 3."He further added that, "In addition, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries. We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border."As the parties report back to their capitals, the potentially transformative letter, in which Lebanese ambassador to the U.N. Ahmad Arafa, criticized Iran for deploying alleged terrorists from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) into Lebanon "under the guise of diplomatic activity," has offered encouragement to critics of Iran and Hezbollah.Arafa stated, according to the letter, that Iran committed "unlawful acts in blatant defiance of the decisions of the Government of Lebanon." He continued, "This Iranian conduct constitutes direct and blatant interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon and drags the country into a war it did not choose to become involved in."Both the U.S. and the European Union have designated the IRGC as a terrorist entity.The letter reprimanded the Iranian Ambassador to Beirut, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, for "blatant interference" in Lebanon.According to Lebanon’s U.N. letter, Beirut argued that Iran is violating the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and interfering in Lebanon’s state of affairs.When questioned about the specifics of the letter, a spokesperson for Lebanon’s ambassador to the U.S. declined to comment. The spokesperson also chose not to comment on the ongoing talks with Israel in Washington.Walid Phares, a leading U.S. expert on Lebanon and the Mideast, informed Digital that "Many have considered the Lebanese memo to the U.N. as the start of the Lebanese government's change of attitude towards Iran and a sign of escalation by Beirut. While the tone of the letter and its narrative make people feel that there is a government resistance to Iran and Hezbollah, the reality is still lesser."He added that "The subject of the last quarrel is a legal change of status regarding the presence of Iranians on Lebanese soil. The Lebanese government has decided not to grant Iranians, government, and private citizens an automatic visa waiver, which upset Iran and Hezbollah. Besides, Tehran is furious at the fact that the Lebanese government has not been helpful in dealing with the elimination of a number of IRGC members killed in Lebanon by Israel. Tehran blames the foreign ministry of Lebanon, particularly foreign minister Youssef Raggi, for the ‘lessening of solidarity with Iran.'"According to Phares, "Raggi represents a Lebanese Christian bloc in the parliament, who is not sympathetic to the regime. However, the actual talks in D.C. are designed by the Lebanese government to show the Trump administration that the ‘state wants to talk’ but not to reach an agreement that would trigger Hezbollah's wrath. The leaders of the Lebanese state are not yet where the U.S. and Israel expect them to be."A regional official well-versed in the U.N. dispute told Digital that Lebanon "argued that Iran had not given the Lebanese foreign ministry the list of all Iranians and the details about their place of stay. And that’s why Israel targeted that hotel in Lebanon in which six were killed, which is true."The official stated that "Iran had not informed the foreign ministry of Lebanon about those six people." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - According to reports from the British military, a vessel was seized off the coastline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) close to the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday morning. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed on Thursday that the vessel was boarded and "taken by unauthorised personnel" when it was located roughly 38 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah, the UAE's oil export terminal. UKMTO reported Thursday that it tracked the vessel moving toward Iranian territorial waters after the seizure took place. British authorities have not released details on the vessel's ownership or the identity of the group that seized it. While there is no official confirmation so far, the BBC reported that the Honduras-flagged ship Hui Chuan was the vessel seized in the Strait on Thursday. Citing risk management company Vanguard, the BBC reported that the ship's operators informed Vanguard that Hui Chuan was functioning as a "floating armory" for vessels traveling through the Strait to defend against pirate attacks. At least two other vessels have been seized in the Strait of Hormuz since February this year. In April, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized two ships in the Strait: the Panamanian-flagged MSC Francesca and the Epaminondes. Digital reached out to UKMTO and Vanguard for additional details on the incident, but did not receive an immediate response. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - WARNING: This article includes graphic and disturbing accounts from the October 7 massacre in Israel.Hamas and its Palestinian collaborators employed sexual and gender-based violence "deliberately and systematically" as an intrinsic element of their broader strategy during the 2023 massacres in southern Israel, according to a report released Tuesday by the Civil Commission on Oct. 7 Crimes Against Women and Children.The Israeli nonprofit stated that its investigation gathered evidence of abuse at various locations during the Oct. 7 terror incursion, including the Nova Music Festival, kibbutzim situated near the Gaza border, Israel Defense Forces bases, among hostages held in captivity, and in the condition of recovered bodies exhibiting signs consistent with sexual violence.The report detailed that investigators identified at least 13 recurring forms of abuse, encompassing rape, sexual torture, shootings targeting victims’ genital areas, and abuse inflicted post-mortem.Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, founder and chair of the Civil Commission and a principal co-author of the report, informed Digital that the most significant challenge in compiling the findings was the team's repeated exposure to graphic material and the associated trauma of regularly reviewing it."We were compelled not only to gather materials but also to review and analyze them alongside forensic experts while witnessing human suffering at its most extreme," Elkayam-Levy stated. "Our motivation stemmed from the denial, hesitation, and questioning we encountered. We were determined to ensure the world comprehends what transpired to the victims."For us, this represents a final act of justice for the victims," she added.The report also documented instances where sexual violence was perpetrated in the presence of or involving family members, including one alleged incident where relatives were coerced into committing acts against one another.Furthermore, it accused Hamas and allied perpetrators of utilizing videos, digital platforms, and social media as instruments to amplify psychological harm, disseminate fear, and publicize the attacks, including the distribution of sexualized content.Elkayam-Levy expressed her hope that the findings would extend beyond academic circles, human rights organizations, or activists, and also be examined by counterterrorism and national security experts to foster a deeper understanding and confrontation of such atrocities."We cannot prevent what we do not fully comprehend," Elkayam-Levy asserted. "No single prosecution could ever fully encapsulate the magnitude of these crimes in the way this report does. Consequently, it is crucial for policymakers, decision-makers, members of Congress, and senators to find avenues for formally recognizing these findings and conducting hearings to initiate addressing this issue. We desire the findings of this report to receive formal institutional acknowledgment."Elkayam-Levy pointed out that the report highlights that victims of the Oct. 7 atrocities hailed from 52 countries, underscoring the global reach and impact of the attack.Witness testimonies included in the report featured an account of a woman who was sexually assaulted before being beheaded. Another witness described observing a woman being dragged from a vehicle, pinned against a wall, repeatedly raped, and then stabbed, with the assault allegedly continuing after her death.In a separate case, a witness recounted discovering the body of a man whose genitals had been severed, lying next to the body of a woman holding them, in what the report characterized as an apparent effort to degrade and humiliate the victims.Investigators reported that some female victims were found naked or partially unclothed, with evidence of severe mutilation and the insertion of objects such as grenades, nails, and household tools into their bodies. The report also cited gunshot wounds, cuts, and burn injuries concentrated on intimate areas.The report indicated that some female bodies brought to morgues displayed broken pelvises or legs, bloodied underwear, and additional trauma to the abdomen or groin.Former hostages, both female and male, have also provided testimony regarding rape, sexual torture, and other forms of abuse during their abduction or captivity, according to the report. It stated that some female captives reported experiencing sexual assaults while receiving medical treatment in Gaza hospitals for injuries sustained during the attacks.Male hostages similarly described sexual abuse during their captivity, including assaults in showers and incidents carried out under armed threat while victims were naked, the report noted. One former hostage recounted being sexually assaulted when a captor forcibly rubbed his genitals against the victim’s anus.Last month, former hostage Rom Braslavski shared the abuse he claimed to have endured during captivity in an exclusive interview with Digital."They would hit me with whatever they had on hand. I underwent severe torture, bondage, and sexual abuse. Everything they could do to me, they did. My body is still covered in scars. After four months of torture, I was clinically dead, rolling my eyes and passing out. They decided to stop the violence and brought doctors to treat me with injections and gave me food again," he recounted.The report asserted that sexual and gender-based violence was "widespread and systematic" and constituted an "integral component" of both the Oct. 7 attacks and the subsequent treatment of captives, while deeming the prosecution of such crimes an "urgent" priority to be pursued through international accountability mechanisms.Among its recommendations, the commission advocated for targeted sanctions against individuals and entities accused of perpetrating or materially supporting the Oct. 7 attack and its aftermath. It also urged action against what it described as the denial, minimization, or politicization of the sexual crimes committed during the massacre and in captivity."The Commission further recommends that Israel adopt a comprehensive gender strategy within its prosecutorial framework and establish a specialized chamber or panel of judges dedicated to the prosecution of sexual and gender-based crimes committed on October 7th and during captivity," the report stated.Elkayam-Levy mentioned that the report has garnered significant international attention, including front-page coverage in U.S. and global media outlets. "We feel the discussion has shifted from questioning whether these crimes occurred to examining their consequences," she commented. "There is now a substantial legal evidentiary foundation preserved in a secure archive that cannot be denied." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.