The shocking case of the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old by 30 men in a beach hotel in the Red Sea city of Eliat, in the Red Sea, has caused a stir in Israel.
According to the Guardian, the local police have launched an investigation and so far 2 arrests have been made for the case, with the next few hours being crucial for the identification of further suspects.
According to the British newspaper, citing reports in the Israeli media, one of the suspects claimed that about 30 men had sex with the minor girl, but insisted that there was no rape. Although the authorities have not revealed many details about the case, local media report that the "attack" took place in a hotel room, with some men participating in it and others recording the brutal acts with their mobile phones.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken out against crimes against humanity, calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. The country's Minister of Labor and Social Services, Itzik Smuli, said Israeli citizens have a duty to combat the mentalities that allow "such shocking cases" to occur.
The incident in Elijah allegedly happened on August 12 and the victim turned to the police two days later.
Ofra Siboni, a lawyer for one of the suspects, said her 27-year-old client admitted she was in the hotel room that night. "The young man collaborates with the investigators, denies what is attributed to him and presented his own version of events," Simponi told Haaretz.
An Israeli court spokesman told the Guardian that the case would be heard in camera and that details of the case would not be released to the public. Women's rights groups in Israel are planning protest rallies in various cities this afternoon.
Source: First Issue / Sigmalive