Yazidi woman rescued from Gaza after decade in captivity

The Islamic State group once controlled 88,000 sq km (34,000 sq miles) of territory stretching from eastern Iraq to western Syria and imposed its brutal rule on almost eight million people.

In August 2014, IS militants swept through Iraq’s north-western Sinjar region, which is the homeland of the Yazidi religious minority.

In numerous Yazidi villages, the population was rounded up. Men and boys over the age of 14 were separated from women and girls. The men were then led away and shot, while the women were abducted as the “spoils of war”.

Some of the Yazidi girls and women who later escaped from captivity described being openly sold or handed over into sexual slavery as “gifts” to IS members.

The Islamic State group is believed to have killed more than 3,000 Yazidis and captured 6,000 others in total.

The UN said IS committed genocide as well as multiple crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Yazidis.

Iraqi authorities say more than 3,500 members of the community have been rescued or freed and about 2,600 people remain missing.