Latest news with #ZAKA
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Shocking extent of Hamas October 7 sex attacks is laid bare as full report is released: Terrorists gang-raped and executed victims and boasted of kidnapping 'pedigree mares', charity claims
A new Israeli report has concluded that sexual violence was widespread and systematic during the Hamas-led incursion into Israel on October 7, 2023. The Dinah Project, aiming to 'achieve recognition and justice' for the victims and survivors, published a major report on Tuesday, compiling testimonies and evidence on alleged sexual violence on October 7 and against those in Hamas captivity. The report, part-financed by the British government and Israeli advocacy groups working in Israel and the U.S., identified 'clear patterns' in how alleged sexual violence was reported during the assault and according to hostages returning from Gaza. It assessed that 'Hamas used sexual violence as a tactical weapon, as part of a genocidal scheme and with the goal of terrorising and dehumanising Israeli society, a finding with significant implications for international justice mechanisms.' Hamas has denied that its forces committed sexual violence against women or mistreated female hostages. The report references three separate reports of mutilation, including two survivors from the IDF military base at Nahal Oz, who 'described [the] cutting off [of] victims' breasts'. They also cite a senior ZAKA employee (voluntary post-disaster response team), who told Dinah Project Members last year that a female body had been found in Kibbutz Be'eri with a metal object inserted in her vagina. A male body was also said to have been found in one of the kibbutzim, tied and naked with a metal object inserted in his groin, according to a ZAKA volunteer. A third case of a body of a male with an object inserted into his anus was described in the report. The report cited a file released by Israel's military which purported to show 'an astounding call between a Hamas terrorist (an UNRWA worker) and his officer', in which the former described a 'sabaya' (captive or sex slave), referring to her as a 'pedigree mare'. According to the report, five witnesses reported at least four separate cases of gang-rape, and seven reported at least eight other separate cases of rape or severe sexual assaults, some of them in captivity. Five witnesses also reported at least three cases of sexual assaults, some in captivity, and three reported three cases of mutilation. Nine of those cases related to the Nova music festival, an open-air music festival during the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret near kibbutz Re'im which was attacked by more operatives of Hamas' Al Qassam Brigades. One survivor of the festival told members of the Dinah project that she was subjected to an attempted rape and sexual assault, the report says. The Israeli military said earlier this year that Hamas had killed 378 people at the Nova festival alone during the attack that sparked the Gaza war. Around 1,200 people were killed in total on October 7. First responders described 'clear signs of sexual violence across six locations', identified in the report as the Nova music festival near the border with Gaza, on the Israeli highway Route 232, at the military base at Nahal Oz, and the Re'im, Nir Oz and Kfar Aza kibbutzim. One former hostage also said she was forced to perform a sexual act, according to the report. Testimonies also referenced forced nudity. Hostages described verbal and physical harassment, as well as threats of forced marriage. Cars and belongings left at the Supernova Festival site where hundreds were killed and dozens taken by Hamas militants near the border with Gaza on October 12, 2023 in Kibbutz Re'im The Dinah report claims to 'go beyond' previous reports, including the UN's findings last year that concluded Hamas had employed sexual violence on October 7 and against those in captivity. Pramila Patten, the UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict, said at the time that her team of experts witnessed 'unspeakable violence perpetrated with shocking brutality', but were unable to establish the prevalence of sexual violence. The authors of the Dinah report note that the mission could not ascertain 'whether sexual violence was used as a tactic of war or in a widespread and/or systematic manner'. They argue that Hamas did, in fact, employ sexual violence 'as a tactical weapon of war', and urge the UN to include potential designation of Hamas on the UN Secretary-General's blacklist of groups that use sexual violence as a weapon. It argues: 'When individuals join a coordinated, ideologically-driven assault aimed at destruction and dehumanisation, they bear responsibility for the full range of atrocities committed as part of that assault—even if they did not personally commit each specific act or were not aware of its commission by a co-perpetrator.' The report's methodology notes that there is no formal legal definition of 'tactical weaponisation of sexual violence', but reference 'the accepted scholarly description' as 'sexual assaults committed as part of an attack for the purpose of instilling fear and terror within the enemy'. 'Since in most cases it would be impossible to find evidence of orders to use sexual assault as part of the attack, and since it can be assumed that most perpetrators would deny any prior planning of these acts, it is necessary to seek other means to indicate the premeditated usage of sexual violence,' the report continues. 'Thus, when a number of sexual assaults that were committed as part of an attack exhibit similarities or common elements indicative of a pattern, they are taken as demonstration of the systematic and intentional usage of sexual violence as a weapon of war.' A photo hangs on a fridge next to bullets holes in a house at Kibbutz Kissufim in southern Israel, October 21, 2023. The Kibbutz was overrun by Hamas militants from the nearby Gaza Strip on October 7, when they killed and captured many Israelis Compiling information on the attack has been challenging. Critics of Israel's government, including self-described feminist groups, have pushed back on media reports describing testimonies of victims as being unfounded and relying on non-credible witnesses. The Times of Israel, a 'non-partisan' newspaper in Israel, published a story in May 2024 arguing that two debunked accounts of sexual violence from ZAKA workers had fuelled global skepticism of October 7 rape. A volunteer commander with the Israeli search and rescue mission had found a teenager shot dead in her own home with her pants pulled down below her waist. He thought that was evidence of sexual violence, TOI reports. The inference was ultimately discredited, after being widely reported in international media. He told the Associated Press: 'I couldn't think of any other option other than the teen having been sexually assault. At the end it turned out to be different, so I corrected myself.' The article warned that debunked accounts had 'encouraged skepticism and fueled a highly charged debate about the scope of what happened on October 7 - one that is still playing out on social media and in college campus protests'. The UN, which did criticise how authorities had gathered evidence, conducted interviews, visited attack sites and reviewed more than 5,000 photographic images and some 50 hours of the attacks before asserting that it had found credible evidence of sexual violence against both October 7 victims and hostages. The Dinah report notes it is not 'engaged in the independent collection of testimonies', led instead by a police investigation. The report intends to serve as a 'global legal blueprint' to explain 'how to prosecute sexual violence as a weapon of war - even when evidence is messy, survivors are gone, and individual perpetrators can't be tied to individual acts'. Smoke rises in Gaza following an explosion, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 5, 2025 This picture taken from a position at Israel's border with the Gaza Strip shows the sun setting behind destroyed buildings in the besieged Palestinian territory on July 3, 2025 Negotiators met today in the hopes of finding an end to the war after 21 months of conflict. Families on both sides of the border have been torn apart by the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Scores of people were taken back into Gaza as hostages on October 7 and still it is believed there are 20 living captives still in the Palestinian enclave. The death toll in Gaza passed 57,000 in recent days, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry The Israeli government has been accused of 'deliberately' imposing a famine on the civilian population by the UN.
Zawya
17-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
RIT Dubai hosted graduation of NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI program
Dubai, UAE: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) of Dubai has hosted the graduation of the NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI program, in collaboration with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) and the pioneering educational institution, ZAKA. The event recognised the achievements of 70 Emirati & Arab women who successfully completed the 20-week AI Certification program with ZAKA, which was established to increase the skills capacity in artificial intelligence and machine learning in the UAE. Organized by ZAKA Co-founder and Head of Partnerships, Larissa Abi Nakhle, the ceremony welcomed RIT Dubai President Dr. Yousef Al Assaf and Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation CEO Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar. In her opening remarks, Dr. Ben Jaafar highlighted the Foundation's dedication to upskilling Emirati women and supporting their entry into the AI job market, empowering them to become leaders in the region's digital future. Addressing the graduates, Dr. Ben Jaafar said, 'You have stepped into a male-dominated field, and you did this boldly and fearlessly. You are the spark of a movement; a signal that the UAE's innovation economy will not be built by machines alone, it will be built by women like you. You are not just changing your future, you're shifting a global statistic.' Welcoming guests on behalf of RIT Dubai, Dr. Al Assaf provided an overview of the six centers that will be launching as the campus development continues, and invited the graduates to explore opportunities for collaboration with the university. Speaking about the importance of retaining human values in the advancement of technology, Dr. Al Assaf remarked, 'Smart machines are not replacing jobs, they are creating jobs, but we must remember that AI speaks to our emotions but does not have emotions; we need to make sure that the human element is integrated into the codes we develop in order to help people to lead a better life.' The event proceeded with the award of certificates to the cohort of students representing the UAE and other Arab nations. The graduation marked the culmination of a highly selective and challenging program that combined technology with job-readiness skills to prepare candidates for the future of work. The program was set in the context of anticipated expansion in the Middle East AI sector, with an expected annual growth rate ranging from 20 to 34 per cent, projecting a potential impact of $320 billion by 2030. As part of the program, students undertook an intensive 12-week curriculum, involving topics including data science, statistical modelling, neural networking and machine learning. The curriculum concluded with an eight-week capstone project, during which participants worked on a real-life assignment proposed by a partnering company, applying the skills they had learned during the course. This phase includes weekly mentorship sessions to guide participants through the project. Among the program's graduates was Reem Al Neyad, an alumna of Zayed University with a major in information technology, networking, and security. Reflecting on her experience, she said, 'I have always been interested in artificial intelligence; my senior project was a medical dispenser powered by AI. I wanted to build on my experience with Python and machine learning through this program, and it has enhanced my skills in this area. I can now apply this experience in the real world, and I am grateful for the opportunity provided by AGF and ZAKA.' During the ceremony, a keynote address was delivered by Dr. Aishah Al Yammahi, Strategic Advisor at Alef Education. The event concluded with presentations of some of the AI projects developed during the program, including BookBuddy AI, a bilingual support tool enabling children to develop a deeper understanding of language. About RIT Dubai Established in 2008, RIT Dubai is a not-for-profit global campus of the esteemed Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, one of the world's leading technological-focused universities with more than 185 years of history. RIT Dubai is now operating from phase one of its new $136 million state-of-the-art campus, which provides an interactive learning space set over 129,000 square meters. RIT Dubai offers highly valued Bachelor's and Master's degrees in business, psychology, media design, leadership, engineering, and computing. The curriculum offers students relevant work experience through an innovative cooperative education program, helping them stand out in today's highly competitive job market. RIT Dubai offers American degrees issued directly from the main campus in New York, and all of RIT's programs are accredited by the UAE Ministry. Students of RIT Dubai also have the unique opportunity to choose to study abroad at the main campus in New York or at one of its other global campuses.
Gulf Today
17-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Emirati, Arab women sharpen AI skills
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) of Dubai has hosted the graduation of the NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI programme, in collaboration with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) and the pioneering educational institution, ZAKA. The event recognised the achievements of 70 Emirati and Arab women who successfully completed the 20-week AI Certification programme with ZAKA, which was established to increase the skills capacity in artificial intelligence and machine learning in the UAE. The NOMU, meaning 'growth' in Arabic, initiative was launched by AGF in 2021 to empower 25,000 Emirati youth by 2025. The graduation ceremony was attended by ZAKA Co-founder and Head of Partnerships, Larissa Abi Nakhle, Dr Yousef Al Assaf, President RIT Dubai and Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation. In her opening remarks, Dr Ben Jaafar highlighted the Foundation's dedication to upskilling Emirati women and supporting their entry into the AI job market, empowering them to become leaders in the region's digital future. Graduates of the NOMU Al Ghurair Women in AI programme receive their certificates Addressing the graduates, Dr Ben Jaafar said, 'You have stepped into a male-dominated field, and you did this boldly and fearlessly. You are the spark of a movement; a signal that the UAE's innovation economy will not be built by machines alone, it will be built by women like you. You are not just changing your future, you're shifting a global statistic.' Welcoming guests on behalf of RIT Dubai, Dr Al Assaf provided an overview of the six centres that will be launching as the campus development continues, and invited the graduates to explore opportunities for collaboration with the university. Speaking about the importance of retaining human values in the advancement of technology, Dr Al Assaf remarked, 'Smart machines are not replacing jobs, they are creating jobs, but we must remember that AI speaks to our emotions but does not have emotions; we need to make sure that the human element is integrated into the codes we develop in order to help people to lead a better life.' The event proceeded with the award of certificates to the cohort of students representing the UAE and other Arab nations. The graduation marked the culmination of a highly selective and challenging programme that combined technology with job-readiness skills to prepare candidates for the future of work. The programme was set in the context of anticipated expansion in the Middle East AI sector, with an expected annual growth rate ranging from 20 to 34 per cent, projecting a potential impact of $320 billion by 2030.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mother, son perish in fire in Modi'in apartment, authorities investigating
Ynet reported, sourcing the Modi'in police, that one investigative route being pursued is that she killed her son, locked the house up, set it aflame, and took her own life. A mother and her son were found dead in a scorched Modi'in apartment after it suffered a deadly fire on Sunday morning. Israel Police said it opened an investigation into their deaths. Firefighters dispatched from the local station responded to a call about a fire on the second floor of an apartment building. When they arrived, they noticed black smoke coming from the apartment. They added that the victims were so badly wounded that they had to call their deaths. It was during the search that the firefighters found the bodies. Emergency response service organization ZAKA said it would assist in evidence collection and identification and ensure the dignity of the deceased. Ynet reported, sourcing the Modi'in police, that one investigative route being pursued is that she killed her son, locked the house up, set it aflame, and took her own life. Police Central District Chief Asst.-Ch. Yair Hezroni said at the site, 'The apartment was locked on the inside... when we got in, we saw the horror of the burned bodies.' He added that there was a stab wound in the mother's chest. At first glance, he said, 'This looks like a murder-suicide,' but noted that other options are being investigated as well. Hezroni added that there were no known complaints to police from that apartment.
