A reservist who handled the aftermath of the Hamas terror assault says there was a “systematic genital mutilation” of girls as a number of victims had been shot within the crotch, breasts and head.
Warning – incorporates graphic particulars of accidents
Shari Mendes was a part of an Israeli military reserve unit whose function was to determine and put together feminine troopers for burial.
She informed Sky News’ The World With Yalda Hakim she was on the Shura base on 8 October, the place victims had been introduced the day after the assault that killed greater than 1,200 individuals.
“The halls were lined to the ceiling with body bags, the smell was unimaginable. I can’t tell you the shock and despair that struck all of us,” mentioned Ms Mendes.
Her unit carried out a spiritual function, “accompanying” the feminine victims and getting ready them for burial in white linen.
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“It was our job to honour them, they could have been our daughters – they were the same ages as our children… Just for a moment we loved them,” she informed Sky News.
Ms Mendes mentioned ladies got here in precisely dressed, some with bloody underwear, and their accidents had been one thing none of her staff was ready for.
“Women were shot many times in the face… Their mouths were in grimaces, their eyes were open, their fists were clenched,” she mentioned.
“They were shot so many times in the head, in many cases it was like there was purposeful obliteration of women’s faces.
“Our staff has seen ladies shot within the crotch, within the genitals. Women had been shot within the breast… Our staff noticed this.”
She added: “Women had legs minimize off. It appeared like there was a scientific genital mutilation of girls within the ladies we noticed.”
Hamas has denied its fighters raped anyone during the attack, saying it would contradict Islamic teaching, but the UN has begun investigating the claims.
‘Booby-trapped bodies’
Ms Mendes said many victims were so badly damaged that she and her colleagues struggled to dress them for burial in the customary white linen.
She told Sky News: “One girl had her arm and her leg damaged in so many locations it was like dealing with marbles or sand, and at a sure level we mentioned we’d simply put a white sheet on high of her.”
Witnesses and others who dealt with the attack, particularly the massacre at the Nova music festival, have also described terrible injuries to women and said rape appeared to have been used as a tactic.
Ms Mendes also said the base had to be evacuated on occasion because some victims arrived “booby trapped”.
She mentioned different ladies who might have been subjected to sexual violence in the course of the assault could possibly be staying silent, terrified of not being believed.
“If these women are being questioned about the veracity of their claims, why should they come forward?” she mentioned.
“I think we have to be patient: they’re very traumatised… It may take time for these women to speak out, if they ever do.”
“It re-victimises the victim to not believe them.”
Source: information.sky.com”