The open letter below was initiated by U.S.-based anti-Zionist Jewish feminists. It has since gained support across the United States and internationally. As its preamble notes, the signatories “believe we have a particular responsibility to speak out in support of Palestinian rights and against the current genocide.”

It also states clearly, “We support the investigation initiated by the highly-qualified members of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry into the entire range of war crimes committed during both the October 7 Hamas attack and the Israeli state’s subsequent assault on Gaza.”

The letter is a response to efforts to discredit supporters of women’s rights who speak out against rape but also oppose Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza.

Below the list of signers, the document concludes with a section on background and resources, which includes links to op-eds, articles, and websites with information and opinion on the issues involved.

Among them, a December 1, 2023, statement by the organization MADRE — Calling for a Survivor-Centered Approach to Sexual Violence in Israel, Palestine and Beyond — stands out. MADRE, as its web site explains, was “founded in 1983” as “an international human rights organization that transcends geographies and generations to deliver sustainable gender, racial, climate, and disability justice.”  Its statement says in part:

Eyewitnesses and first responders to the Hamas attacks on October 7 have reported that militants committed sexual violence against Israeli women and girls. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an investigation, amplifying a demand put forward by Israeli feminist organizations. MADRE categorically condemns the use of gender-based violence in war. While we cannot independently verify claims of sexual violence on October 7, they deserve to be investigated, as do reports of sexual violence committed by Israeli security forces and settlers, which has long been used to subjugate Palestinians….

We reject any presumption that our support for Palestinian liberation leaves no room for condemnation of attacks against civilians, or that compassion for Israeli victims requires an endorsement of Israel’s assault on Gaza. We also repudiate racist notions that tarnish all Palestinian men as predators or that hold the entire Palestinian people responsible for the attacks by Hamas. Furthermore, seeking justice for Israeli survivors does not imply a moral or material equivalency between Israeli and Hamas crimes.

World-Outlook is publishing the open letter that follows and the list of background materials for the information of our readers. The original can be found here.

*

Open Letter to the Israeli and U.S. Governments and Others Weaponizing the Issue of Rape

All too often in the fog of war, the brutality of sexual assault and rape is lost in the public eye, and bringing these abuses to light is something for which feminists have fought for decades. Complicating this issue, however, is the fact that accusations of sexual assault have also been wielded as a tool of war – and as an (often lethal) weapon of racism and colonialism.

In its current war against the people of Gaza, the Israeli government has chosen to weaponize the issue of sexual violence for political outcome. The statement below will be delivered to officials of the Israeli government who have mounted a public crusade manipulating this issue to both legitimize – and divert attention from – their campaign of ethnic cleansing, to dehumanize Palestinians, and to vilify those who criticize their actions. It will also be sent to U.S. officials, prominent public figures and others who, with intention or misguidedly, have joined the fray by demonizing a variety of feminist organizations and individuals. In some cases, these attacks have included orchestrated campaigns to withdraw funding for critical work. They have also fueled harassment and doxing of staff or board members that, reprehensibly, has included threats of rape and death.

The statement was initiated by U.S.-based anti-zionist Jewish feminists who believe we have a particular responsibility to speak out in support of Palestinian rights and against the current genocide. It has since garnered support from across the U.S. and throughout the world. Many of the signers have worked on or researched the issue of sexual violence for decades. Many have directly supported survivors and/or are survivors ourselves. Collectively, we are accustomed to holding complicated realities in our minds, which we believe to be a necessary practice in a complex and unjust world.

The signers of this statement stand together both in condemning all instances of war crimes – including sexual violence – and in defending those who are under attack for challenging Israel’s deadly assault on Palestinians.

In the face of these attempts to intimidate or discredit us, we refuse to be silenced.

OPEN LETTER TO THE ISRAELI AND U.S. GOVERNMENTS AND OTHERS WEAPONIZING THE ISSUE OF RAPE

We, the undersigned, are responding to the disgraceful coordinated offensive currently being leveled against feminist, women’s advocacy, Jewish anti-zionist, and other organizations, agencies and individuals, accusing us of “failing to condemn” reported systematic sexual assaults of Israeli women and children in the brutal October 7 attack by Hamas. We repudiate the attempts by the Israeli government, and its apologists, to delegitimize our work, defund social justice and feminist organizations, and undermine our demands that Israel cease its genocidal massacre of Palestinians.

Whether we identify as feminists, as Jews, as anti-zionists, as all of the above, or as allies, and wherever we are based in the world, we proclaim that we can hold many truths simultaneously in our heads and in our hearts; that is what we do every minute of every day. We excoriate rape and all forms of sexual assault against anyone of any gender or age – whether perpetrated by Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) or anyone else. We also excoriate carpet bombing of civilians, deadly blockades of food, water and fuel, use of illegal chemical weapons, targeted murders of journalists and aid workers, decimation of homes, hospitals, schools, houses of worship, infrastructure and entire family lines, annihilation of culture, kidnapping and hostage-taking, and all war crimes when committed by any party.

For those of us who are Jewish, we embrace our Jewish identity and its history of facing down injustice and we also condemn the actions of the state created in our name that was birthed in massacre and mass expulsion, that has maintained a stifling, racist and dehumanizing occupation for 75 years, and that is currently conducting mass murder of civilians daily with impunity.

WE CONDEMN RAPE – JUST AS WE CONDEMN EVERY WAR CRIME.

Sexual assault is devastating. Whether perpetrated by state or non-state actors; by strangers, acquaintances, friends or family members; by teachers, coaches, supervisors, co-workers or religious figures of any faith; by police, prison guards, soldiers or guerrilla fighters – we are very familiar with its enduring legacies of trauma and upheaval. And we condemn it equally in every instance.

We believe survivors and we believe reporting that results from investigations conducted by trained feminist and human rights experts who have no agenda other than to clearly and accurately document and convey the gravity of gender-based violence. Sexual assault is pervasive – even commonplace. It is rarely met with the outrage that its incidence, impact and enormity merit. And, history is also replete with examples of rape charges being wielded by stakeholders in armed conflict to render the “enemy” more monstrous – and thus as deserving of ever-more depraved forms of militarized violence. This tactic is as old as war itself. And this means that there are many reasons to distrust either the selective outrage – or protestations of innocence – of either governments or militias, or their respective propaganda organs, when it comes to sexual assault. There is an urgent need for increased public consciousness about how such outrage is mobilized during periods of conflict, and/or to legitimize racist agendas. And there is equivalent need for public awareness during moments when outrage is conspicuously absent – such as when members of those very governments or militias are accused of sexual abuses within their own ranks.

Israel’s current campaign to discredit feminists – especially feminists of color, Arab feminists and Jewish anti-zionist feminists – and others critical of its lethal offensive against Palestinians is insulting and dishonest, but it is nothing new. We see it for what it is: a cynical attempt to incite public fury and deflect attention from the genocide it is perpetrating. And far too many public figures and elected officials have allowed themselves to become participants in this onslaught of accusations against us.

So, let us once again make ourselves clear: We condemn rape. We condemn genocide. And we also condemn the opportunistic manipulation of the issue of sexual assault by those committing war crimes themselves – or by anyone else.

We support the investigation initiated by the highly-qualified members of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry into the entire range of war crimes committed during both the October 7 Hamas attack and the Israeli state’s subsequent assault on Gaza – an effort in which Israel thus far has refused to participate. We also support additional inquiries into these sexual assault allegations conducted by impartial feminist and human rights authorities with proven expertise in, and sensitivity about, sexual violence, as well as provision of a comprehensive range of services for all survivors by those explicitly trained in addressing sexual trauma. Additionally, we urge investigation into reported atrocities by both Israeli military personnel and non-state actors – including vigilante settler groups – throughout Israel and the Occupied Territories.

Finally, we continue to raise our voices as part of the world-wide call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and political prisoners, termination of U.S. military aid to Israel and an end to Israeli apartheid.

Below is a list of initial signers of this statement.

Please click here if you would like to add your name; the list will be updated periodically.

We encourage you to share this effort and invite others to sign on.

Amanda Lugg (US)
Ana Zentella, Professor Emerita, University of California San Diego (US)
Angela Y. Davis (US)
Anissa Helie, Feminist Historian (Algeria / US)
Ann Russo, DePaul University (US)*
Arlene Avakian, Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
Aurora Levins Morales, Writer (Puerto Rico)
Prof. Ayşe Gül Altınay, Sabancı University (Turkey)*
Dr. Barbara Ransby, Historian/Writer (US)
Barbara Schulman, Independent Advocate (US)
Barbara Smith, Black Feminist Author and Activist (US)
Dr. Barbara Klugman, Strategy and Evaluation Freelancer (South Africa)
Beverly Sheftall (US)
Blanche Wiesen Cook, University Distinguished Professor Emerita, John Jay College (US)
Carrie Shelver, Sexual Rights Initiative (South Africa)*
Catherine Hodes, LCSW/LICSW, Gender-Violence Advocate (US)
Prof. Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Distinguished Professor, Syracuse University (US)*
Charlotte Bunch, Founder, Center for Women’s Global Leadership (US)
Chitra Ganesh (US)
Cindy Engler (US)
Cindy Weisner, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance (US)*
Cynthia Rothschild, Independent Advocate (US)
Prof. David Kazanjian, English and Comparative Literature, University of Pennsylvania (US)*
Prof. Dianne Otto, Melbourne Law School (Australia)
Dubravka Zarkov, Associate Professor (retired), International Institute of Social Studies Netherlands (Serbia)
Ellen Gurzinsky (US)
Prof. Elizabeth Bernstein, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Barnard College, Columbia University (US)*
Prof. Elora Chowdhury, Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston (US)
Esther Farmer, Jewish Voice for Peace-NYC (US)
Gillian Kane (US)
Prof. Gina Dent (US)
Prof. Gloria Careaga, Faculty of Psychology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico)*
Hema Sarang-Sieminski (US)
Prof. Hülya Adak (Turkey)
Ilana Landsberg-Lewis (Canada)
Indai Sajor, Independent Advocate (Philippines)
Jacqueline Woodson (US)
Prof. Jessie Daniels, PhD (US)
Joan Nestle (US / Australia)
Joanne Sandler (US)
Jodi Jacobson, Human Rights Advocate (US)
Joyce Yu (US)
Karen Zelermyer (US)
Kate Kroeger, Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism (US)
Katherine Acey, Chair, Political Research Associates (US)*
Kathy Engel (US)
Kavita Nandini Ramdas, Principal, KNR Sisters; Activist in Residence and former President and CEO, Global Fund for Women (US / India)
Kay Whitlock, Co-Author, Queer (In)Justice: The Criminalization of LGBT People in the US (US)
Prof. Ketu Katrak, University of California Irvine (US)*
Prof. Kiran Asher (US)
Laurie Woods, Independent Advocate for Women (US)
Lepa Mladjenovic, Feminist List Against Rape in War in the Region of Ex-Yugoslavia (Serbia)
Leslie Cagan (US)
Prof. Lila Abu-Lughod, Columbia University (US)*
Lisa Cartwright (US)
Prof. Lisa Duggan, New York University (US)*
Student Rabbi Louisa Solomon (US)
Lydia Alpízar Durán, Independent Advocate (Mexico / Costa Rica)
Margaret Cerullo, Professor Emerita, Hampshire College (US)
Margaret Randall (US)
Marion Stevens, Founding Director of the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition and Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
Marjorie Fine (US)
Marla Erlien (US)
Rabbi May Ye, Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council (US)*
Prof. Miriam Ticktin (US)
Nathalie Arnold Koenings, Hampshire College (Belgium)
Prof. Nina Berman, Columbia Journalism School (US)*
Dr. Penny Rosenwasser, Kehilla Community Synagogue; Jewish Voice for Peace (US)
Prof. Rebecca Jordan-Young, Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Barnard College (US)*
Rela Mazali, Writer, Independent Scholar, Activist (Israel)
Risa Shaw, PhD (US)
Prof. Rosalind Petchesky, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Hunter College & the Graduate Center-City University of New York; Member Leader, Jewish Voice for Peace-NYC (US)
Roxanna Carrillo (Perú / US)
Sally Noland MacNichol, Anti-Violence Activist (US)
Samantha Kostmayer, Independent Advocate (US)
Sandy Martin, Feminist, Socialist, Activist (US)
Sara Lennox, Professor Emerita, University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)*
Sarah Schulman (US)
Sarah Sills, Member Leader, Jewish Voice for Peace-NYC (US)
Prof. Shahla Talebi, Arizona State University (US)*
Prof. Sima Shakhsari, University of Minnesota (US)*
Stephanie Roth, Member, Jewish Voice for Peace (US)
Subha Wijesiriwardena, Feminist Activist, Researcher, Communicator (Sri Lanka / US)
Susan Lob, Founder, Voices of Women Organizing Project (US)*
Susana Fried (US)
Prof. Svati Shah (US)
Prof. Tami Kashia Gold (US)
Terry Greenblatt (US)
Yasmin Nair, Writer and activist (US)
Zillah Eisenstein, Professor Emerita, Writer, Activist (US)

*Affiliation included for identification purposes only

The following is a list of additional signers that will continue to be updated periodically.

Names are listed in the order in which they were received.

Please click here if you would like to add your name.

Deb Matheson, Raging Granny (Canada)
Liz LeClair, Sexual Assault Survivor (Canada)
Hope Chigudu (Zimbabwe)
Prof. Sé Sullivan, University of Alabama (US)
Prof. Amina Mama (Nigeria / UK / US)
Krishanti Dharmaraj, Feminist Alliance for Rights (US)
Stephanie Urdang, Writer (US)
Judy Yu (US)
Adam Richter (US)
Dr. Kim Fountain, Independent Advocate (US)
Mariam I. Habib, LCSW,Social Worker and Educator (US)
Pauline Park, Chair, New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA) (US)
Dr. Claerwen O’Hara, La Trobe Law School (Australia)*
Laurie Prendergast, Advocate and Organizer (US)
Dr. Karen Crawley, Griffith Law School (Australia)*
Prof. Kelly Gillespie, University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
Ms Fatima Shabodien, Feminist Activist (South Africa)
Roshila Nair, Social Justice Activist, Global South Against Xenophobia (GSAX) (South Africa)
Masoodah Chikte (South Africa)
Judy Favish (South Africa)
Tanya Serisier, Birkbeck, University of London (UK)
Saajidah Cassiem, Muslim Youth Movement (South Africa)
Dr. Madeleine Kennedy-Macfoy, Executive Director, Gender at Work (Norway)
Simi Kamal, Women’s Rights Activist (Pakistan)
Zartasha Niazi, Human Rights Activist (Pakistan)
Kalyani Menon Sen, Independent Researcher (India)
Ms Ruth van der Vindt (South Africa)
Michal Friedman (South Africa)
Ayesha Khan, Independent Advocate (Pakistan)
Saajidah Cassiem, Chairperson of Western Cape Muslin Youth Movement (South Africa)*
Lajla Elin Blom, Independent Advocate (Norway)
Kamal Faridi(Pakistan)
Khawar Mumtaz, Activist (Pakistan)
Dr. Ednie Garrison, Professor of Women’s, Gender and Queer Studies (U.S.)
Bilquis Tahira (Pakistan)
Merle Favis, South African Jews for Free Palestine (South Africa)*
Torild Melhus, Psychologist (Retired) (Norway)
Jasveen Jairath, Human Rights Advocate (India)
Aayushi Aggarwal, Independent Advocate (India)
Rina King, Independent Advocate (South Africa)
Erum Khan (Pakistan)
Dr. Julia Dehm, Senior Lecturer, La Trobe University (Australia)
Jessica Sherman, South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP) (South Africa)
Cristina Delgado (Argentina)
Megan Choritz (South Africa)
Zandi Sherman, South African Jews for a Free Palestine (South Africa)
David Kelleher (Canada)
Ghada Jiha, Feminist Advocate (US)
Clara Sheffer (US)
Holly Richardson, Community Organizer (US)
Roslyn Fish, South African Jews for a Free Palestine (South Africa)*
Emma Daitz, Researcher, Department of Family, Community, and Emergency Medicine, UCT (South Africa)
Anthony Fish Hodgson, South African Jews for a Free Palestine (South Africa)
Stephanie Gilman (US)
Dr. Carol Miller, Independent Researcher and Evaluator (Canada)
Kezia Lewins, Wits Sociology (South Africa)
Erum Khan (Pakistan)
Dr. Marie-Katherine (Kate) Waller, Gender at Work (Canada)
Jamila Abu Maria, Independent Advocate, Writer, Communications Consultant (US)
Bertha Pearl (US)
Naheed Samadi Bahram, Independent Advocate (US)
Emer Martin, SHIPS (Ireland)
Prof. Laura Tanenbaum, City University of New York; JVP-NYC (US)
Rupande Mehta (US)
Prof. Nichole Shippen, LAGCC, City University of New York (US)*
Rieky Stuart (Canada)
Luma Kennedy, Lecturer/ Research Associate (US)
Morgan Garcia, MPH, FHI 360 (US)*
Lauren Whitmer, PhD, Gender-Based Violence Researcher & Advocate (US)
Prof. Michelle Fine, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (US)
Jo Sorochinsky, Independent Advocate (Canada)
Terésa Stern, LCSW; Jewish Voice for Peace (US)
Sasha Ross Becker (US)
Dr. Judith Marshall, Independent Researcher (Canada)
Brian Weiss (US)
Gina Heathcote, Newcastle University (UK)
Susie Day, Writer (US)
Johanna Brenner (US)
Janet Goodman-Clarke, Jewish Woman, JVP Activist (US)
Adam J. Martin (US)
Susan Oberman (US)
Jo Macellaro (US)
Arielle Shorr, Jewish Voice for Peace; If Not Now; Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (US)
Callie Thuma (US)
Anya Bernstein (US)
Jules Rose, Anti-Zionist Jewish Activist (US)
Tonda Marton, Independent Advocate (USA`)
Jerise Fogel (US)
Marc Kagan, City University of New York School of Labor and Urban Studies (US)*
Susan Lee (US)
Cora Cadman (US)
Richard Ronner, Development Community (US)*
Mariam Rauf, Baloch Feminist and Advocate (US)
Dr. Karlyn Koh (U.S.A.)
Doctor Janice Haaken, Portland State University (US)
Hana Hobscheid (US)
Linzi Manicom (Canada)
Renée Steinhagen, Jewish Voice for Peace (US)
Nathan Pollack (US)
Lisa Sanetra, Independent Advocate (US)
Gail Lerner, Jewish Voice for Peace-NYC (US)*
Christopher Stone, Professor of Arabic (US)
Alexandra Woods, PhD, Psychologist (US)
Laura Flanders, Journalist & Author (US)
Priya Dhanani, PhD Candidate, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Monash University (Australia)
Rupal Oza (US)
Kohenet Elana-June Margolis (US)
Susan Epstein (US)
Daniela Gennrich, We Will Speak Out South Africa (South Africa)
Maria Karsou, Independent Advocate (US)
Sarah Sophie Flicker, Organizer and Artist (US)
Julia Barnett (Canada)
Renée Steinhagen, Member, Jewish Voice for Peace-Northern New Jersey (US)
Wendy McPeake (Canada)
Manon Beury, Human Rights Lawyer (Switzerland)
Patricia Clough, Psychoanalyst (US)
Heather Benjamin (US)
Dr. Gordon Doctorow, EdD (Canada)
Alexandra Wells (US)
Prof. Bina Fernandez, University of Melbourne (Australia)
Zoe Kupetz, History Teacher (US)
Marina Lent (US)
Morgan De Lancy (US)
David Durning, Independent Advocate (Canada)
Ezra Friedman (US)
Margie Bertrand (Canada)
Miranda Morgan, PhD, Independent Advocate (Canada)
Dr. Jordana Silverstein (Australia)
Richie Merino, Bronx Anti War Coalition (US)
Katie Olmstead, Jew (US)
M.J. Williams (US)
Carolyn D’Cruz (Australia)
Karen Judd, Independent Advocate (US)
Ann Clendenin, LCSW (US)
Dr. Suzette Mitchell, Independent Advocate (Australia)
Jenny Stimac, Independent Jewish Voices Canada (Canada)
Trudy Silver, Jewish Feminist (US)
Sari Graham (US)
Hannah Barnes (US)
John Of (U.S.)
Dianne Feely, Co-Editor, Against the Current (US)
Pedro Cruz, JVP and JVP North Jersey (US)
Prof. Barry Eidlin, Sociology Dept., McGill University (Canada)*
Fatima Hasan, Independent Advocate (US)
Eli Oberman (US)
Tegan Evans, PhD Candidate, University of Melbourne (Australia)
Linda Alband (US)
Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (US)
Tamara Lorincz, Activist and academic, WILPF-Canada & VOW (Canada)
Joshua Kimelman (US)
Eileen Weitzman (US)
Laurie Arbeiter, We Will Not Be Silent (US)
Sumedha Choudhury, Melbourne Law School (Australia)
Ingrid Semaan (U.S.)
Rola Saeed (Jordan)
Rashida Manjoo, Professor Emeritus (South Africa)
Sina Najafi, Cabinet Magazine (US)*
Elise Tak, Independent Advocate (US)
Hadeel Bibi, Independent Social Consultant (Jordan)
Sherry Wolf, Tempest Collective (US)
Prof. Loretta Feris, Professor of Law, University of Pretoria (South Africa)*
Prof. Wendy Brown, JVP member (US)*
Prof. Rebecca Karl, New York University (US)*
Soraya Shalforoosh (US)
Tamara Braam (South Africa)
Dr. Shireen Hassim (South Africa)
Ms Bernedette Muthien, Engender (South Africa)
Marina Green (South Africa)
Prabha Khosla, ReFocus Consulting (Canada)*
Kacey Byczek, Independent Advocate (US)
Deborah Mutnick (US)
Dr. Sabrina Qureshi, Million Women Rise (UK)*
Lourdes Beneria, Professor Emerita (Spain)
Fadia Kamal (Jordan)
Prof. Ellen Ross, Profesor Emerita, Ramapo College (US)*
Jan Slakov (Canada)
Dominique Russell (Canada)
Shauna Paull, poet (Canada)
Kevin Tremblay (Canada)
Carina Ray, University of Michigan (US)*
Yifat Susskind, Executive Director, MADRE (US)
Any Laurau Tremosa (SpaIn)
Janet Hooper, Elder (US)
Reanne Anad, Female Liberation Network (United Kingdom)*
Chloe Weiser, Jew & Feminist Advocate (US)
Laila Ali (Canada)
Sarah Gunther (US)
Alexis Danzig (US)
Claudia Castañeda, Independent Advocate (US)
Emily Maxwell (Canada)
Amanda Mercedes Gigler, Feminist Free Radical (Serbia / The Netherlands)
Prof. Nancy Holmstrom, Professor Emerita, Rutgers University, Newark (US)*
Silvana Castaneda (US)
Anna Berg (US)
Jeanne Bergman, PhD, Jewish Elders of JVP (US)*
Sheila Jordan, Superintendent of Schools Emerita (US)
Marcia Gallo, Professor Emerita, University of Nevada-Las Vegas (US)*
Karen Hoover, MD, Independent Advocate for the Palestinian People (US)
Rasha Arabi, Independent Advocate (US)
Bonnie Anderson, Professor Emerita of History, City University of New York (US)
Koyoltzintli Miranda (US)
Jean Gagne, Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)
Prof. Lori Gruen, Philosophy and FGSS, Wesleyan University (US)*
Terry Boggis (US)
Nydia Leaf (US)
Owen Berson (US)
Lorissa Sengara (Canada)
Evneeki Roufail, Independent Advocate (Canada)
Julia Greenberg, Independent Health and Rights Consultant (US)
Prof. Ann Cammett (US)
Matt Dragon, Independent Advocate (US)
Mx. Emery Flatt (US)
Rachel Cohen (US)
Katie Halper, The Katie Halper Show (U.S.)
Phoebe Hunter (US)
Dr. Angela Miller (US)
Alison Jaggar, Emerita Professor of Distinction, Philosophy and Gender Studies (US)
Marisa Judeh (Jordan)
Evan Thomas (US)
C.M. Shelagh Day (Canada)
Tanya Layne (South Africa)
Mr. Sulaiman Foday Mansaray, Gender Advocate (Sierra Leone)
Betty Marton, Independent Advocate (US)
Edeltraud Lipkow, Retired Person (Germany)
Mallory Seegal (US)
Judith Deutsch, Psychoanalyst (Canada)
Giselle Carino, CEO- Fòs Feminista (USA / Argentina)*
Megan Moore (US)
Margaret Washington (US)
Dr. Reyes Coll-Tellechea, Spanish-American Scholar, University of Massachusetts Boston (US)
Jim Snodgrass, Independent Advocate (US)
Ann Antonellis (United States of America)
Karla Schultz, Registered Nurse (US)
Noha Sadany (US)
Eric Camins (US)
Prof. Gertrude Fester, Black feminist Writer and Activist (South Africa)
Dr. Amy Pett (US)
Tamara Castro (US)
Cinzia Arruzza, New School for Social Research (US)
Susan Gutwill, MS, LCSW, Feminist Psychotherapist, Trauma Therapist (US)
Lori Adelman (US)
Professor Alison Phipps, Newcastle University (UK)
Ariane Brunet, Co-founder, Centre for Secular Space; Activist on Violence Against Women in War (Canada)*
Lisa Kubie, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (US)
Janet Forrester, Independent Advocate (US)
David Pratt (U.S.)
Yusuf Ahmad, NYC for Abortion Rights (US)
Dr. Vanja Hamzić, SOAS University of London (United Kingdom)
Janet Wong (Malaysia)
Michelle Maffia (US)
Francine Miller, Esq., Vermont Law & Graduate School (US)*
Kathryn Levy (U.S.)
Prof. Nancy Fraser, New School for Social Research (US)*
Janice Gutman, Lesbian Feminist Activist (US)
Ann Ferguson, Professor Emerita, University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
Prof. Leslie Salzinger, Chair, Gender and Women’s Studies, UC Berkeley (US)*
Prof. Molly Talcott, California State University, Los Angeles (US)
Dr. Patsy George, Human Rights and Peace Advocate (Canada)
Patricia Swick (Canada)
Dr. Denise Miller (United Kingdom)
Dr. Jamie Hagen, Queen’s University Belfast (UK)
May Fu, California State University, Los Angeles (US)
Nela Porobić, Feminist Anti-Militarist Collective (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Dr. Anna Selmeczi, South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP) (South Africa)
Masuma Ali Khan, PhD Student (Italy)
Gorana Mlinarevic (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Prof. Beth Baker, California State University, Los Angeles (US)
Prof. Maria Cisterna Gold, University of Massachusetts, Boston (US)*
Barbara Ruth, Jewish Voice for Peace (US)*
Orit Schreiber (UK)
Maria Suarez Toro, Writer, Honorary Pen International Award; Autonomous Feminist Activist (Costa Rica)
Tracey Levi (United Kingdom)
Susan Barney, Independent Advocate (US)
Dennise Christensen, Church Going Christian (United Kingdom)
Dr. Ebru Lumley (United Kingdom)
Arielle Sabot, MA Jewish Gender Studies (US)
Prof. Sara Farris, Sociology (UK)
Asia Garramone, Studentessa e Attivista (Italy)
Dra. Stefany Rojas Montero, Enf (Costa Rica)
Haman The’rasha, Co founder FIFTJ; Independent Iranian (Iran)
Terr. Yasser Avafit, Humanitarian; IED specialist (Egypt)
Catherine Rottenberg (UK)
Malika Ndlovu (South Africa)
Naomi Allen, New Paltz Women in Black (U.S.)
Jo Salas (US)
Tanya Marquette, Independent Advocate (US)
Corey Balsam, National Coordinator, Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)
Luciana Percovich, Author;Independent Advocate (Italy)
Kathryn Russell, Professor Emerita of Philosophy, State University of New York; US Social Justice Activist, Scholar, Teacher (US)*
Rac Silver, Songwriter;Independent Advocate (Scotland)
Thamar Álvarez Vega, Psychologist and Writer (Spain)
Maud Easter, Independent Advocate (US)
Sally Haslanger, Ford Professor of Philosophy and WGS, Massachussetts Institute of Technology (US)*
Allie Ross (US)
Linda Novenski, Veterans for Peace-NYC (US)
Dr. Alejandra Marchevsky (US)
Alexandra Holmstrom-Smith, MA, JD; Socialist Feminist Working Group, Democratic Socialists of America-NYC* (US)
Ellen Mosen James, JVP (US)
Marit Parker (Cymru / Wales)
Mickie Lynn, Women Against War (US)*
Dina Refki (US)
Dr. Dana Kornberg (US)
RN Wendy Dwyer, Member U.H. Peace Action (US)
Anne Liske (U.S.)
Dr. Yassin Brunger, Queen’s University Belfast (UK)*
Nalini Burn, Independent Advocate; Researcher (Mauritius)
Elizabeth Cox (Australia)
Linda Abbott (US)
Francoise Girard, FMUS.org (US)
Ms Carmen Ghdaye (Canada)
Gwen Maffia (US)
Prof. Sheila Bunwaree, Independent Advocate (Mauritius)
Eugene Hamoy, Independent Advocate (US)
Michele Sibony, Member, French Jewish Union for Peace UJFP (France)
Prof. Dana Collins, California State University, Fullerton (US)
Reeni Goldin (US)
Haris Jamil (Australia)
Rupal Oza (US)
Lisa Bloom (US)
Wendy Thompson, Retired President, UAW Local 235 (US)*
Elizabeth Regan (UK)
Margaret & Kurt Liske, Independent Advocates (USA)
Mary Buchwald (U.S.)
Hazel Landa (US)
Ramdenee Neena, Docteur en Pharmacie (Mauritius)
Arla Ertz, Retired Social Worker (US)
Elizabeth Finnegan, Independent Advocate (UK)
Seth DiMartile, Member of Anakbayan (Canada)*
Adi Teelock, Independent Advocate (Mauritius)
Feny Fischler, Another Jewish Voice (Belgium)
Filip Fanchette (Mauritius)
Sym Van Wesemael (Belgium)
Branca Maria Moreira Alves, Retired UNIFEM; Independent Advocate (Brazil)
Mireille Moutte (France)
Janet Wong (Malaysia)
Sarah Tanghe (Belgium)
Judy Stewart (UK)
Alex Marlowe (Canada)
Carole Ferraro (US)
Jeannine Guthrie (US)
Prof. Kiran Grewal, Human Rights, Goldsmiths College (UK)
Katherine Doyle (US)
Mr. Ramphul Vyas, Valuation Surveyor (Mauritius)
Monika Schweizer (Canada)
Ann Berlak, San Francisco State, Retired (US)*
Michele Hunt (US)
Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Survivor-Healer; Writer; Documentary Filmmaker (US)
Dina Portnoy (US)

*Affiliation included for identification purposes only

Please click here if you would like to add your name.

BACKGROUND AND RESOURCES

These links are provided for background on the issues raised in the statement and to direct readers to additional resources. Inclusion here does not imply endorsement of content on the part of statement signers.

Feminist Ceasefire Statements

Palestinian Feminist Collective Statement
https://palestinianfeministcollective.org/us-feminist-organizations-call-for-permanent-ceasefire-now/

Feminists for a Free Palestine statement
https://truthout.org/articles/over-140-prominent-feminist-scholars-demand-ceasefire-end-to-occupation-in-gaza/

Feminist Manifesto for Palestine
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v-7jXhV3Kg-BR2Sz0cZPqex8F5wsf4bI_DQppClvQBc/edit

Statement by 1,200 scholars working in feminist, queer, and trans studies
https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/45485

Global Fund for Women “Stop the Massacre” statement
https://www.globalfundforwomen.org/latest/article/palestine-stop-the-massacre/

National Women’s Studies Association statement
https://mailchi.mp/nwsa/nwsa-calls-for-a-ceasefire-and-negotiations-to-end-gaza-siege-and-israeli-apartheid-450830

Social movement activists’ statement
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHM1p9NvxBEPampXrxDx8WCbNSnyeZgX9pe_vFoo2nLAuQsA/viewform

Feminist Op-Eds and Statements on Oct. 7 Rape Allegations and/or Weaponization of the Issue of Rape

11/25/2023 Palestinian Feminist Collective statement on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
https://palestinianfeministcollective.org/shut-down-colonial-feminism-2023/

12/1/23 MADRE statement calling for a survivor-centered approach to sexual violence
https://www.madre.org/media-item/calling-for-a-survivor-centered-approach-to-sexual-violence-in-israel-palestine-and-beyond/

12/8/23 The Edge op-ed by Zillah Eisenstein
https://www.theedgemedia.org/war-rape-question-hamas/

12/13/23 NY Times op-ed by Jill Filipovic
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/opinion/hamas-violence-women-israel.html

1/4/24 Aljazeera op-ed by Maryam Aldossari
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/1/4/for-feminists-silence-on-gaza-is-no-longer-an-option

1/7/24 Survivor Advocates in Support of the San Francisco Ceasefire Resolution
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VjdmbM_Hx0fDFKR4unni1X7eu2QENTWyq2SGxm0ZJbY/edit?usp=sharing

1/16/24 CounterPunch op-ed by Heidi Matthews and Tanya Serisier
Bombing Gaza Isn’t Fighting Sexual Violence

1/19/24 Jadaliyya op-ed by Nada Elia
https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/45725/Weaponizing-Rape

Feminist Solidarity Collective for Palestine critique of NY Times reporting on Hamas rape allegations
https://sites.google.com/view/nycrimes/decolonial-feminist-edition-no-4

Speak Up – Middle East/North African (MENA) Feminist Initiative statement on NY Times reporting on Hamas rape allegations
https://speakupeg.com/2023/12/30/nyts-disgraceful-investigation-weaponizing-sexual-violence-against-women-for-occupation-propaganda/

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Statement
https://www.wilpf.org/only-solidarity-will-bring-justice/

Human Rights Watch statement on investigating sexual and gender-based violence in conflict
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/12/investigating-sexual-and-gender-based-violence-conflict

Gender-Based Violence and Gender Inclusion Professionals statement
https://www.change.org/p/calling-on-gender-based-violence-and-gender-inclusion-professionals-ceasefire-now

Select Media Coverage and Source Materials on the Oct. 7 Allegations and the Sexual Assault Issue

11/10/23 Guardian article on implications of failure of Israeli government to preserve evidence in Oct. 7 attack
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/10/israel-womens-groups-warn-of-failure-to-keep-evidence-of-sexual-violence-in-hamas-attacks

11/14/23 Reuters article on Israeli families condemning women’s groups
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/where-are-you-israeli-hostage-families-urge-womens-groups-speak-up-2023-11-13/

11/29/23 US Congressional letter calling on UN Women to condemn Hamas
https://cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/cherfilus-mccormick.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/final-letter-calling-on-un-women-to-condemn-hamas-sexual-violence-against-israeli-women1.pdf

11/30/23 The Hill article on congressional letter condemning UN Women
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4335175-house-lawmakers-accuse-un-women-hamas-attack/

11/30/23 Reuters article on UN Commission investigating war crimes by Israel and Hamas
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-commission-investigate-hamas-sexual-violence-appeal-evidence-2023-11-29/

November 2023 Physicians for Human Rights Israel Position Paper on Sexual Violence on Oct. 7
https://www.phr.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/5771_Sexual_Violence_paper_Eng-final.pdf

Image of 12/4/23 Full page ad in NY Times (paid for http://www.bonot.org/aid-israel)
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/full-page-ad-in-nytimes-calls-on-world-not-to-ignore-hamas-sex-crimes-on-oct-7/

12/4/23 UN Special Session on Sexual Violence organized by Israeli Mission to the UN on 12/4 (scroll down in article for link to video of entire session):
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/watch-un-session-discusses-allegations-of-hamas-rape-of-israeli-women/

12/4/23 US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand statement at UN Special Session
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0F4QiwkdhM

12/1/23 UN Women statement on reported gender-based violence
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/statement/2023/12/un-women-statement-on-the-situation-in-israel-and-gaza

12/1/23 National Review article attacking Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice & naming Jewish board members
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/where-are-the-women-of-astraea/

12/2/23 Haaretz article condemning UN Women for their “late response”
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-02/ty-article/.premium/after-eight-weeks-un-women-condemns-hamas-use-of-sexual-violence-on-oct-7/0000018c-2b09-dc03-a9ec-3f7ba0190000

12/4/23 National Review article attacking Women for Women International
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/where-are-the-women-of-women-for-women-international/

12/5/23 Fox News attack on Pramila Jayapal
https://www.foxnews.com/media/womens-groups-silent-top-progressive-jayapal-downplays-hamas-rape

12/5/23 Reuters article on accounts of sexual violence and difficulties in investigating
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/accounts-sexual-violence-hamas-attack-mount-justice-is-remote-israels-victims-2023-12-05/

12/6/23 Guardian article on Israel’s condemnation of Unicef ED for not condemning Hamas early or strongly enough and its refusal to provide access to UN investigators
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/06/un-condemnation-of-sexual-violence-by-hamas-too-little-too-late-says-israel

12/8/23 CNN clip of former Microsoft CEO Sheryl Sandberg criticizing feminist orgs
https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/12/08/the-lead-sheryl-sandberg-un-on-hamas-sexual-violence-jake-tapper.cnn

12/8/23 Mondoweiss article on lack of evidence in allegations against Hamas
https://mondoweiss.net/2023/12/despite-lack-of-evidence-allegations-of-hamas-mass-rape-are-fueling-israeli-genocide-in-gaza/

12/11/23 Letter from US Senators to UN Secretary General denouncing UN Women’s response to 10/7 allegations
https://www.rosen.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Letter-to-UN-on-Hamas-Sexual-Violence-Final-Version.pdf

12/12/23 NBC News article on 33 US Senators criticizing UN Commission of Inquiry
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senators-call-un-open-independent-probe-hamas-sexual-violence-rcna129187

12/24/23 Intercept article on the global response to weaponization of the sexual assault allegations
https://theintercept.com/2023/12/24/feminism-sexual-violence-hamas-israel/

1/19/24 AP article on women and children as main victims of war
https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405

1/29/24 NY Times article on new UN investigation
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/29/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-sexual-violence-un.html

1/30/24 Intercept article on NY Times internal strife over article investigating Hamas sexual violence
https://theintercept.com/2024/01/28/new-york-times-daily-podcast-camera/

1/30/24 CBC article on why investigating Oct. 7 sexual assault allegations will be long process
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/oct-7-sexual-violence-investigation-1.7093742

2/9/24 Mother Jones article on protests at Columbia Univ. event on sexual violence in conflict featuring Hillary Clinton and Sheryl Sandberg
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/02/hillary-clinton-protesters-sexual-violence-columbia-hamas-gaza-israel/

Additional Resources

Palestinian Feminist Collective website
https://palestinianfeministcollective.org/

Solidarity with Palestine – A Radical Black Feminist Mandate
https://www.blackwomenradicals.com/blog-feed/black-feminist-perspectives-on-palestine-a-reading-list

Pirate Feminist Solidarity Resource Website created by Barnard Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies faculty
https://in-this-moment.org/resources-2/

Webinar: Palestine is a Feminist Struggle: Emerging Feminist Organizing from the Homeland to the US
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7GbROi_Sgw&t=3010s

Review of African Political Economy Blog: Why Palestine is a Feminist and an Anti-Colonial Issue
https://roape.net/2023/11/21/why-palestine-is-a-feminist-and-an-anti-colonial-issue

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