During the Hamas attacks of 7 October, Israeli girls and women – ranging from young children to elderly people – were subjected to gang-rape and humiliating sexual assaults. Some of their corpses were violated. Hostages who have been released have reported on sexual violence that they and other captives endured while being held in Gaza. We, as human rights advocates in the fight against gender-based violence and antisemitism, were deeply troubled – and remain so – by the slow response of international organisations, governments and civil society to these horrific occurrences.
Some groups initially hesitated, or posted and then retracted the information, citing the need for further evidence in a situation where obtaining such documentation is inherently challenging. This reaction is in stark contrast to the global gender-based violence movement’s typical emphasis on the importance of listening to and believing survivors’ accounts.
When other groups have been subjected to gender-based violence, feminist leaders, women’s groups and UN bodies, including independent experts, have moved swiftly – in some cases within days – to speak out. This was true even while the victims were still seeking justice. Such was the case during the brutal crackdowns on Iranian women and girls and their protests, Yazidi women under the genocidal Islamic State reign, and Nigerian girls at the hands of Boko Haram thugs. They did not wait two months to condemn these actions while they gathered the necessary facts. This is not to suggest that one atrocity or human rights violation is worse than another. This isn’t a contest. Each crime is horrific, and the perpetrators should be prosecuted.
We are gratified that President Biden, in whose administration we serve, condemned Hamas’s use of rape and sexual assaults just after the attacks took place, and in December called on “all of us – government, international organisations, civil society and businesses – to forcefully condemn the sexual violence of Hamas terrorists without equivocation. Without equivocation, without exception.”
But too many others – in particular those who make their mandate fighting gender-based violence – have remained silent or only belatedly and reluctantly spoken out in the three months since these barbaric attacks. We echo the sentiment of the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who said: “Where is the universal condemnation? And where is the outrage?” Our stance is clear: the voices of all women must be heard and believed. Any woman’s experience of gender-based violence should not be sidelined or discredited.
We feel compelled to ask: why is this situation any different to when other women have faced similar violence? What accounts for the clear reticence to speak out? The only difference is the perception that these were Jewish – and were perceived by some as somehow deserving – victims. (The victims included non-Jewish women, but the vast majority were Jews.)
The silence that followed was more than just concerning; it suggests a deeper issue of antisemitism that must be acknowledged and addressed. This apparent reluctance to believe the accounts of Jewish women, a stark deviation from the global commitment to believing survivors and condemning such acts, mimics patterns of Holocaust denial, perpetuating a cycle of antisemitism by furthering the stereotype of Jews as untrustworthy. Such denial of Jewish women’s experiences is a significant anomaly and needs to be called out for what it is: a stark manifestation of deep-seated antisemitism.
The use of sexual violence as a tool of war is undeniably on the rise. Ignoring or delaying a response to credible reports of such horrific acts inadvertently validates the acts. It not only denies justice to the victims, but also emboldens the perpetrators.
This fight transcends borders and cultural divides. In recognising the horrific experiences of Israeli women, we also need to manifestly acknowledge that Palestinian women and girls are victims and survivors of gender-based violence. Rape and mutilation of women are never acceptable. There is no “but” when it concerns gender-based violence. The use of sexual violence in conflict to coerce, terrorise, sow fear, or for any other reason is no exception. This is something on which we must all agree – regardless of our position on the broader conflict.
Three months on, as we reflect on these events and the responses to them, it’s time to confront the uncomfortable reality: the silence around the reports of sexual violence on 7 October and the discrediting of accounts are not just a failure of justice, they are indicative of deeper biases that we must collectively address. Let this serve as a clarion call for change, a moment to reaffirm our commitment to all survivors and victims of gender-based violence and to challenge the underlying and often unconscious prejudices that hinder our pursuit of justice and equality. In the fight for human rights and against gender-based violence and antisemitism, believing women’s voices is not just a matter of justice – it’s a matter of urgent necessity.
Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt is the US special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. Ambassador Michèle Taylor is the US permanent representative to the UN human rights council
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
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