Patten has urged Israel to sign a framework agreement with her office, committing to measures against sexual violence in conflicts under UN guidance.

V. Conclusions
84. Overall, based on the totality of information gathered from multiple and independent
sources at the different locations, there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related
sexual violence occurred at several locations across the Gaza periphery, including in the form of
rape and gang rape, during the 7 October 2023 attacks. 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.
85. With regards to the hostages, the mission team found clear and convincing information
that some hostages taken to Gaza have been subjected to various forms of conflict-related sexual
violence and has reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing.
86. The mission team was unable to establish the prevalence of sexual violence and
concludes that the overall magnitude, scope, and specific attribution of these violations would
require a fully-fledged investigation. A comprehensive investigation would enable the
information base to be expanded in locations which the mission team was not able to visit and to
build the required trust with survivors/victims of conflict-related sexual violence who may be
reluctant to come forward at this point.
87. Regarding the occupied Palestinian Territory, while its scope did not extend to
verification, the mission team received information from institutional and civil society sources as
well as through direct interviews, about some forms of sexual violence against Palestinian men
and women in detention settings, during house raids and at checkpoints. Though the mission
team did not visit Gaza, the Office of the SRSG-SVC will continue to monitor the situation for
any relevant allegations of CRSV in the context of the ongoing hostilities. The relevant UN
entities present in the occupied Palestinian Territory will provide UN-verified information for
reporting to the Security Council on allegations of CRSV, which will be complemented by the
information obtained by the mission team.