Reports of Sexual Violence in the Israel-Palestine War

May 14, 2026, 17:02
Middle EastInternational

Introduction

Many people say that soldiers and prisoners suffered sexual violence since October 7, 2023. This happened to both Israelis and Palestinians.

Main Body

Some groups say Hamas used sexual violence as a weapon. They say Hamas raped women and hurt them. Former prisoners say Hamas threatened to kill them if they did not obey. Other groups say Israeli soldiers also hurt Palestinian prisoners. They say soldiers used objects and dogs to hurt naked men. One group says this happens often in Israeli prisons. The Israeli government says these reports are lies. They say Hamas is lying. At the same time, some people are sad because the world does not talk enough about the Israeli victims.

Conclusion

Both sides say the other side used sexual torture. They do not agree on the facts and they do not agree on who is responsible.

Learning

⚡ The 'People Say' Pattern

In this text, we see a very useful way to talk about news or rumors. When we aren't 100% sure, or we are reporting what others think, we use: [Person/Group] + say + [Fact].

Examples from the text:

  • Many people say... → (They believe it happened).
  • Some groups say... → (A specific set of people believe this).
  • The government says... → (The official leader believes this).

🛠️ Word Swap: 'SAY' vs 'SAYS'

Look at who is talking to choose the right word:

Plural (More than one person)

  • People →\rightarrow say
  • Groups →\rightarrow say
  • Prisoners →\rightarrow say

Singular (One person or one thing)

  • Government →\rightarrow says
  • Hamas →\rightarrow says
  • He/She →\rightarrow says

💡 Quick Tip

If you want to tell someone a story you heard on the news, start your sentence with: "They say..." It is the easiest way to share information at an A2 level.

Vocabulary Learning

many
A large number of
Example:Many students visited the museum.
soldier (n.)
A person who fights for a country in the army.
Example:The soldier followed the orders from his commander.
people
Human beings
Example:People gather in the park.
prisoner (n.)
A person who is kept in jail or a prison.
Example:The prisoner was released after serving his sentence.
say
To express something verbally
Example:She says she is tired.
weapon (n.)
An object used to hurt or kill someone.
Example:The police found a weapon in the suspect’s bag.
soldiers
Military members who serve in the army
Example:Soldiers protect the country.
rape (v.)
To force someone to have sex against their will.
Example:The victim reported that she was raped by a stranger.
prisoners
People who are jailed or held in custody
Example:Prisoners must follow rules.
hurt (v.)
To cause pain or injury to someone.
Example:He hurt his arm when he fell from the ladder.
suffered
Experienced pain or hardship
Example:He suffered a broken arm.
kill (v.)
To cause someone to die.
Example:The story tells how the soldier tried to kill the enemy.
weapon
An object used to cause harm or attack
Example:The police seized the weapon.
obey (v.)
To follow orders or rules.
Example:The soldiers were told to obey the new safety guidelines.
women
Adult female humans
Example:Women often work in offices.
government (n.)
The group of people who run a country.
Example:The government announced new policies to improve safety.
hurt
Caused pain or injury
Example:She hurt her knee while running.
lie (v.)
To say something that is not true.
Example:He was caught when he lied about his whereabouts.
kill
To cause death
Example:The hunter killed a deer.
victim (n.)
A person who is harmed or hurt by something.
Example:The victim received support from the community after the incident.
obey
Follow orders or rules
Example:Children must obey their teachers.
government
The group that runs a country
Example:The government announced new laws.
world
The Earth and all its people
Example:The world is warming up.
talk
To speak or communicate
Example:They talk about their plans.
victims
People harmed or harmed by an event
Example:Victims received support.
sides
Opposing groups or parties
Example:Both sides agreed to a pause.
agree
To have the same opinion
Example:We agree on the best way.
facts
True information or details
Example:Facts support the argument.
responsible
Having the duty or obligation
Example:He is responsible for the project.