Israeli Group Urges Recognition of Hamas’ Abuse Against Women

During the renewed conflict with the Hamas terror group, an Israeli activist group took a notable step by publishing a full-page advertisement in the New York Times, urging the UN and the global community to acknowledge the sexual abuse of Israeli women by Hamas. This move follows a temporary cessation of hostilities to aid the release of hostages in Gaza.

The advertisement, addressed “An open letter to all women,” referred to a UN Security Council resolution condemning gender-based violence but emphasized that it does not explicitly address instances like Hamas raping Israeli women. The ad implored people not to turn a blind eye to the brutality of such acts, stating, “Speak now. Silence is consent.”

Moran Zer Katzenstein, the founder of the organization behind the ad, highlighted the mounting evidence of crimes against women over the past two months, emphasizing the increasing clarity regarding the scale of the horror. Zer Katzenstein is scheduled to present evidence during a special UN session on sexual violence led by the Israeli Mission to the UN.

In response to the October 7 attacks by Hamas, the Israeli military, represented by Adm. Daniel Hagari, announced that it would not delay investigations until the end of the conflict in Gaza. They expressed the need to address potential failings in preventing the attacks promptly, aiming to provide answers to the public without waiting for the conclusion of the war.

This development underscores the gravity of the situation, with an Israeli activist group taking the matter to an international platform to shed light on alleged sexual abuse by Hamas against Israeli women, prompting calls for recognition and action from the global community.

_{Repurposed article originally published in The Print}