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A leaked report obtained by the Daily Mail reveals that a British woman has alleged being gang-raped by five Israeli men during her holiday in Cyprus. The 20-year-old victim, whose identity remains confidential due to legal considerations, reported the incident in the party resort of Ayia Napa.
According to the Daily Mail, police promptly responded to the victim's "concise and detailed" complaint, resulting in the apprehension of the five suspects. Interviews were also conducted with the victim's friends who were present during the incident.
This recent case bears a harrowing resemblance to a prior incident in 2019, where another British woman accused a group of Israelis of gang rape. In that instance, initial arrests were followed by the victim being charged with wasting police time, though the charges were later overturned on appeal, garnering international attention.
The alleged rape occurred at the three-star Fedrania Gardens Hotel, where the victim had been invited to a party while staying elsewhere.
The leaked report details the victim's injuries, including visible grip marks, and indicates that she told the police she was forcibly taken to a hotel room and assaulted by the group.
To substantiate the victim's claims, investigators plan to review CCTV footage from the hotel, with a determination to avoid any appearance of neglect. Additionally, sheets and clothing worn by both the victim and the suspects have been sent for forensic examination.
According to the victim's account, the men initially approached her and began flirting. Two of them accompanied her to a room, where the assault occurred, and others joined later. She immediately reported the incident to hotel security.
The group of suspects, all Arab-Israelis from Majd-al Krum, a town located ten miles from Acre, steadfastly maintains that the encounter was consensual.
Their attorney, Nir Yaslovitz, who also represented the previous group involved in a similar case, urged caution, emphasizing that the investigation is still in its preliminary stages.
The men, aged between 19 and 20, have been remanded in custody until the next hearing.
A receptionist at the Fedrania Gardens declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, Orit Sulitzeanu, executive director of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, noted that this case is part of a disturbing trend of group sexual abuse, often involving the filming of such events. She stressed the importance of educating youth about healthy sexuality, consent, and the criminal implications of recording and distributing such videos.
[Source: Daily Mail]
