The commission could struggle to gather sufficient evidence to support future charges if access is not granted.
Israeli authorities have already opened their own investigation into sexual violence during the most deadly attack on Israel in its history, including rape, after evidence emerged pointing to sexual crimes, such as victims found disrobed and mutilated.
Evidence about sexual violence includes testimonies given to Reuters since Oct. 7 by first responders at the sites of the attacks as well as military reservists who tended to the bodies in the identification process.
It is about to release a public "call for submissions" for evidence on Hamas' sexual violence, said Pillay, who is a former U.N. human rights chief and International Criminal Court judge.
"I was very impressed with the deputy prosecutor's (Nazhat Shameem Khan) emphasis on how seriously she wishes to investigate the incidents of sexual violence, the complaints coming from Israel," she said.
Persons:
Abu Mustafa, I'm, Pillay, Issam Abdallah, Israel, Emma Farge, Stephanie Van Den Berg, Emily Rose, Lisa Shumaker
Organizations:
REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Criminal, Human Rights, International, ICC, Thomson
Locations:
Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Israeli, Geneva, Washington, Hague, Jerusalem