Warning: this article mentions graphic violence, rape and sexual assault.
In the immediate aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel, millions around the world saw the disturbing footage of 19-year-old Israeli Naama Levy, hands zip-tied behind her back. With visibly bloody sweatpants, there’s speculation that Levy, who was taken hostage and remains captive in Gaza, had been sexually assaulted.
Since the footage went viral, horrific stories of sexual violence perpetrated against Israeli women during the attacks continue to spread. Evidence comes not only from Israeli civilians, with Israeli police retrieving bodycam footage recorded by Hamas, and Israeli first responders describing disturbing and horrific scenes indicating rape.
Amid the chaos of war, confirming information can be a formidable challenge. Two months after the Hamas attacks, investigators are still trying to determine the scope of the sexual assaults, with AP reporting that “in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, priority was given to identifying bodies, not to preserving evidence … It has been difficult finding rape survivors, with many victims killed by their attackers.” It’s also understandable that individuals harbour scepticism towards narratives emerging from a war zone, as they may be crafted for propaganda objectives.
However, as the evidence of a mass rape event has piled up, with Israel claiming to have 1,500 eyewitness reports within two weeks of October 7, reasonable observers should have been able to state that these events occurred unequivocally.
This information has been reported by first responders who discovered instances of sexual assault, including an Israeli reserve combat paramedic saying he found semen on the backs of two killed teenage girls with gunshot wounds. Accounts also come from individuals who sought refuge among the deceased while witnessing brutal acts at the Nova festival.
Last week the BBC reported that the broadcaster “has seen and heard evidence of rape, sexual violence and mutilation of women during the 7 October Hamas attacks”. It continued: “Several people involved in collecting and identifying the bodies of those killed in the attack told us they had seen multiple signs of sexual assault.”
This week a special session at the UN spearheaded by Israel’s permanent mission to the UN was held, dedicated to speaking about the abhorrent acts against Israeli women. The UN meeting, attended by about 800 people including diplomats from dozens of countries, watched videos from police interviews with first responders. A survivor of the attack on the Supernova rave described witnessing a gang rape.
Hamas denies that its fighters carried out sexual violence. Former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg, who helped organise the special UN sitting, asked if the world should believe them or “the women whose bodies tell us how they spent the last minutes of their lives” and called for a “full and fair investigation” from the UN.
The occurrence of rape and sexual abuse against women appears indisputable. Yet instead of unequivocal condemnation, many feminist groups have dithered in their response, with some refusing to address the topic at all.
Women’s organisations that ardently uphold the rights of all women, champion the belief in all women, and proclaim their commitment to advocating for women’s rights regardless of their geographical location, displayed a delayed or muted response. Leadership from feminist groups in condemning mass rapes against Israeli women is crucial; it demonstrates not only a commitment to justice but also exemplifies leadership and solidarity in the face of heinous acts.
You don’t need to endorse Israel’s actions to publicly declare that, unequivocally, rape and sexual assault are never acceptable under any circumstances.
Yet UN Women, an important global body dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women, took eight weeks to issue a statement. Its slowness has been criticised by many, including Israel’s first lady Michal Herzog, actor Mayim Bialik, and Sandberg, with the hashtag “#MeToo_UNless_UR_A_Jew”.
In a statement, UN Women said it has been closely following reports of “brutal acts of gender-based violence against women in Israel” since the allegations first came to light: “We recognise that UN procedures can appear to be slow-moving. This is particularly true for public statements on conflict-related sexual violence, which require thorough investigation by the commission of inquiry”.
I struggle to find another instance where allegations of mass rape took eight weeks to prompt any condemnation or statement from notable feminist groups. I lament the delayed and insufficient responses from feminist groups and wish they had reacted with greater urgency and force.
As the founder and president of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance Australia (JOFA), I advocate for women to have a voice in all areas of public life. The feminist group is dedicated to expanding the spiritual, ritual, intellectual and political opportunities for Jewish women within the framework of Halakha (Jewish law), but we also raise our voices when other women, Jewish or not, are oppressed or silenced.
I remember the heart-wrenching images that emerged from Afghanistan as the United States hastily withdrew from the country in August 2021. The memories of desperate individuals clinging to planes, and falling to their deaths, remain vivid more than two years on.
In the immediate aftermath, I remember being horrified by the fearful pleas of Afghan women. Their voices, filled with terror, urged the global community not to forsake them, as the Taliban regained control and swiftly enforced bans on women attending universities and schools and holding jobs.
After the American withdrawal, I composed a letter with another Jewish feminist organisation, directed to a local newspaper, urging the Australian government — a key ally of the US — not to abandon the women of Afghanistan, and to unequivocally denounce the Taliban’s exploitation of religion against women. Did this achieve much? Probably not, but it was the bare minimum I could do to show solidarity.
Here I was, running a Jewish feminist group, witnessing in real time the women of Afghanistan being stripped of their rights and being mistreated. So I did what any other reasonable feminist does when other women anywhere in the world are in danger: I spoke up to show my support.
I think there is room for nuance in this discussion. You can disapprove of the Israeli government and the Israeli military. You can criticise the high civilian death tolls in Gaza. But you can still make a statement when the lives of Israeli women are affected. You do not need to like Israel to condemn the rape and sexual assault of Israeli women. You just need to be human.
Jewish women living in Australia are concerned that local feminist groups do not seem to care as much about Israeli women, as seen by the large rally in Melbourne last week, demanding that the Israeli rape victims are not ignored nor erased. Mass rape is also a war crime.
If being a feminist means supporting all women, Israeli women deserve sympathy and support.
When I chose to speak up for Afghan women, I did so because I understood that there is power in the sisterhood of feminism and women sticking up for other women. The mantra has always been believe all women. Including Israeli women. There’s nothing complicated about that.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault or violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
