The United Nations’ senior expert on torture has visited the Israeli kibbutz communities attacked on Oct 7, 2023, for the first time to offer support to families of Israelis abducted by Hamas fighters to the Gaza Strip.

Alice Jill Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment, spoke to Reuters as talks gained momentum in Egypt and Qatar on a ceasefire deal and the release of hostages and Palestinians detained by Israel.

“I’m very hopeful for a deal. I’ve been calling for a long time for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. This is an unlawful act under international law. It’s an atrocity. It’s a war crime,” she said in an interview.

“I am hopeful that the families will be able to see their loved ones as soon as possible and that there will be peace restored in this region.”

On her visit, Edwards described the scene as both eerie and uneasy, a mix of flowers and greenery amid broken windows and shattered glass, the result of fire bombings that October day 14 months ago.

Edwards said she had written to the Palestinian Authority about independent and verifiable reports of sexual torture and violence that occurred on Oct 7. She said she would also speak to Israeli authorities about credible allegations of torture and mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli detention.