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Israeli Women Suffered Horrific Sexual Violence from Hamas. Where Is the Outrage?
(Guardian-UK) Deborah Lipstadt and Michele Taylor - During the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, Israeli girls and women were subjected to gang-rape and humiliating sexual assaults. 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, are deeply troubled by the slow response of international organizations, governments and civil society to these horrific occurrences. This reaction is in stark contrast to the global gender-based violence movement's typical emphasis on the importance of believing survivors' accounts. When other groups have been subjected to gender-based violence, feminist leaders, women's groups and UN bodies have moved swiftly to speak out. But after Oct. 7, too many have remained silent or only belatedly and reluctantly spoken out. We echo the sentiment of U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who said: "Where is the universal condemnation? And where is the outrage?" 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. This apparent reluctance to believe the accounts of Jewish women mimics patterns of Holocaust denial. It needs to be called out for what it is: a stark manifestation of deep-seated antisemitism. Deborah Lipstadt is the U.S. Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism. Michele Taylor is the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council.