Believe Women. A fact which the #MeToo movement has aggressively advocated for many years. However, my perspective changed after Oct. 7th when a wave of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas in Israel went ignored. As an American Jew, I can’t help but ask where is the “me” in MeToo when no one believes women in Israel?
As we approach the annual UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Nov. 25th, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has taken matters into their own hands, initiating the hashtag campaign #BelieveIsraeliWomen. They have announced a task force to investigate the sexual atrocities Hamas unleashed on women and children following the global indifference and pressure from Israeli women’s groups.
In response to the lack of action from Israeli and international organizations in documenting Hamas’ sexual violence, a group of international Human Rights experts and women’s rights groups formed the Civil Commission on Oct. 7 Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children. Considering the lack of concern from the UN, the Commission is collecting evidence of the attacks and is urging the government to further investigate these crimes as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
With the ongoing release of hostages and the directive from Israel’s Health Ministry to have women doctors and nurses on hand to examine, document and interview female captives, the international community has shown little sympathy for the Israeli women affected by these violence acts. UN Women’s executive director and under-Secretary General Sima Balhous, only recently acknowledged the rampant sexual and gender-based violence, however, she failed to specifically address Hamas’ involvement in attacking Israeli and foreign women.
The silence of the international community has caused a widespread social media campaign with the hashtag #MeTooUnlessURAJew that demands attention to the sexual violence committed by Hamas in Israel, while women’s rights groups participate in protests.
Remarkably, many prominent American feminists have victim-blamed Israel, leaving many to wonder what they truly stand for, and oppose the gender-based violence and sexual atrocities in Israel.
It’s heartbreaking that Dr. Cochav Elkayam Levy, the head of the Civil Commission, a professor of International Law and Human Rights and Feminist Theory at Hebrew University, feels let down by the global community. This silent approach poses significant risks, contributing to the normalization of violence against women in war zones.
This alarming pattern of violence against Israeli women has gone largely unnoticed and unacknowledged for far too long. It is imperative that the world stands up, acknowledges this atrocity and calls for accountability, ensuring that the victims are no longer ignored.
