Tag: Sexual violence

Israel’s Abuse of Palestinian Prisoners Must End

By on • ( 1 Comment )

“Sexual-Abuse Case Rocking Israel’s Military Broke After Doctors Sounded Alarm” read a front-page headline in the August 6 Wall Street Journal. “Wounds to alleged Palestinian victim were so severe they needed surgery, triggering Israel’s rare decision to investigate their own reservists,” the subhead continued. As appalling as this incident is, it is only one of many now coming into public view. This post includes an article from the Israeli daily Haaretz: “Torture, Sexual Abuse and Humiliation |Dozens of Testimonies From Palestinian Prisoners Describe Conditions in Israeli Jails During Gaza war.”

UN: Full Investigation Needed on Oct. 7 Sexual Violence Charges

By on • ( Leave a comment )

In early March, Pramila Patten, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG-SVC), issued a report on the Official visit of the Office of the SRSG-SVC to Israel and the occupied West Bank. The report concluded that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred at several locations across the Gaza periphery, including in the form of rape and gang rape, during the 7 October 2023 attacks.” It also stated: “The mission team was unable to establish the prevalence of sexual violence and concludes that the overall magnitude, scope, and specific attribution of these violations would require a fully-fledged investigation.”

Rape as a War Crime and the Need for Accurate Reporting

By on • ( 1 Comment )

On February 28, The Intercept published the article we are sharing in this post, “‘Between the Hammer and the Anvil’ – The Story Behind the New York Times October 7 Exposé.” In detailed reporting, The Intercept revealed that the December 28, 2023, Times story,  “‘Screams Without Words’: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7,” was based on faulty reporting and intended to support the political viewpoint of the Times’ editors.

Open Letter to Israeli & U.S. Governments on Issue of Rape

By on • ( 3 Comments )

This open letter 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.