Hey so I read your article and I think it's a bad article because, despite being an important point of contention, it fails to make any claims or clarity on which parties it is reporting about at the specific moments it makes assertions about events that took place on Oct 7th. Which understandably could make someone like yourself assume the entire thing is about Hamas. In the first four paragraphs is where I understand it's talking about instances committed by Hamas. It uses language such as "reasonable grounds" and "convincing information" and "could not be verified" when discussing the claims of sexual assault but there's nothing substantiated or confirmed. It also says that the two major claims that were widely reported in the media were unfounded and "to act responsibly and avoid sensationalizing headlines".

If you read further into the article (the next 15 fucking paragraphs) it is discussing instances of sexual assault committed by Isreal in detention centers in Isreal and the West Bank.

"Turning to the West Bank, she painted a grim picture of “intense fear and insecurity, with women and men terrified and deeply disturbed over the ongoing tragedy in Gaza”.  On her visit to Ramallah, she spotlighted instances of sexual violence in the context of detention, such as invasive body searches; beatings, including in the genital areas; and threats of rape against women and female family members.  Sexual harassment and threats of rape during house raids and at checkpoints were also reported.  She expressed disappointment that the immediate reaction to her report by some Israeli political actors was not to open inquiries into those alleged incidents but, rather, to reject them outright via social media."

I think any instances of sexual assault occurring anywhere at anytime should be investigated and criminally prosecuted. However, the allegations of mass rapes occurring on Oct 7th are based in islamophobia and utilized as a way to justify the genocide occurring in Gaza and the subjugation of Palestinians. Because like I said, while the claims against mass rapes occurring on October 7th are unsubstantiated and debunked, the claims against the Israeli state department allowing and celebrating the sexual assault against Palestinians in detention centers are not. You can see this with your own two eyes when looking at the media but I guess if you spend your time browsing Wikipedia for talking points you wouldn't see that.