UNICEF, the United Nations International Emergency Fund for Children, issued a weak condemnation of the sexual abuses of Israeli women in the October 7 attacks and called for an investigation, nearly two months after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel.
However, in a statement issued on behalf of its executive director, Katherine Russell, the name of the terrorist organization is not mentioned at all. "The reports of sexual violence on October 7 in Israel are appalling. Survivors need to be heard, supported and cared for. The allegations must be fully investigated. We condemn gender-based violence and all forms of violence against women and girls," the statement said.
A demonstration in front of UN Women's offices in New York, last week, photo: AFP.
The delay in recognizing the sexual crimes committed by Hamas against women, girls and men joins a number of organizations around the world, mainly women's organizations, that deliberately ignore the atrocities committed. For example, the UN Women's Organization addressed and condemned the crimes only last weekend – almost two months after they took place. Yesterday, an event was held at the UN led by Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, which was attended by, among others, former Meta CEO Sheryl Sandberg, Building an Alternative, the Women's Lobby in Israel and more, during which evidence of the sexual crimes committed by Hamas was presented. The event resonated around the world, and despite this, women's organizations around the world remain silent.
In response to UNICEF's condemnation of crimes against humanity committed by Hamas against women, it said: "We welcome the first international condemnation issued today by the organization. The condemnation comes two months late, after too many souls have been hurt and after we and other women's organizations from Israel have fought the silence of the world. A daily and persistent war, thanks to which media outlets from all over the world have brought the voices of those who cannot speak and those who will never be able to speak again. There are organizations that are still silent, led by UN Women (United Nations Organization for the Advancement and Empowerment of Women), there are liberal women in the world who are still silent. We are now in a delegation of women's organizations in New York, where we demonstrated in front of the UN. We met with women in the government, and we will not stop until the whole world knows what has happened to women in Israel since October 7."
A demonstration in front of UN Women's offices, last week, photo: AFP.
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