The October 7 massacre left us all shaken and horrified. Many of us, myself included, experienced a heavy personal loss. Following the attack, watching the graphic images and videos raised concerns that something else was also happening, especially to women who took part in the fighting and were victims or abducted in the attack in an unprecedented way since Israel’s establishment.
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At first, we worked to expose the horrors in a spontaneously organized group of women – experts in international law, violence against women, and victims' rights, among others – who joined forces to bring this issue to the forefront. Today, the activity continues through women's organizations and the civilian committee established to investigate Hamas' crimes.
The exposure of Hamas' sexual crimes is unprecedented and requires a level of work that none of us were prepared for: over two decades of researching sexual violence and legal representation for women and their families didn’t prepare me for this moment.
The main areas of activity included the compilation of evidence, testimonies, and various indicators that surfaced following the attack to understand the scale and nature of the phenomenon and enable its treatment.
It quickly became apparent that systematic sexual violence was employed by Hamas as a tactic, and the materials indicating this were gradually being exposed. This was due, among other reasons, to different actors dealing with handling the attack, and the fact that even those who didn’t see themselves as witnesses, such as soldiers or doctors, became such. And naturally, the severe trauma is also affecting the rate of new evidence and testimonies being uncovered.
Responses to dealing with these events, despite their uniqueness, unfolded in a way reminiscent of cases of sexual assault. Initially, many refused to believe that they might be victims of systematic sexual horror used by terrorists. After the shock and denial stemming from repression, the action phase began, attempting to prove that what happened was indeed true.
Mechanisms of censorship and silencing were introduced in these cases by UN organizations, which injected mistrust into the victims' version of events and demanded international evidence – a standard that the global feminist community has fought against for decades to prove or condemn cases of sexual assault.
Initial resistance to addressing the issue also surfaced in Israel with various claims, including the potential embarrassment of possible victims, uncertainty about the extent of the harm committed, the argument that dealing with these cases shifts the focus from the other horrors of the attack, and even claim that focusing on women is a form of defamation against men who also suffered from severe torture and captivity.
While some of this criticism may contribute to refining this fight, we must remember that sexual assaults are primarily and predominantly perpetrated against women. Even if dealing with the subject is disturbing, oppressive, and painful, the discourse of shame serves as a tool to suppress the victims of sexual attacks.
Our role, as the sisters of those who are no longer with us, or those lacking the mental strength to seek justice, is to make their voices and humanity that were violated and taken from them in the attack heard.
The relentless struggle to raise awareness of the issue has led to extensive coverage in the world's leading media outlets, receiving ongoing mention from the United States government, and recently even the start of recognition by UN entities.
This success primarily serves to illuminate and warn against the inherent danger of patriarchy to women worldwide, requiring comprehensive intervention. It also underscores the importance of women as decision-makers and will help in urging countries to establish the necessary mechanisms for treating victims. As a society, this is essential for us in order to heal from the severe trauma suffered by both them and us, standing alongside them.
The horrors of October 7 are catastrophic in and of themselves, even without delving into their specifics. Everyone in the areas struck by Hamas suffered from them. This suffering continues for those who were also abducted and being cruelly held in Gaza.
Prof. Yifat BitonPhoto: Ilan BasorThe additional horror of sexual crimes is another harsh and ominous aspect that must be addressed. Only by doing so can we say in this case, as in any case of sexual crimes: You are not alone. Our voices are your voices, and justice, even if belated and insufficient, will be carried out for you by our hands.
- Prof. Yifat Biton is a researcher of law and violence against women, president of the Achva Academic College of Education & Science, and the chair of the Board of Public Academic Colleges in Israel.