Sexual violence as a weapon of war during October 7 massacre

Twiglets1 · 2025-07-08T09:38:29+00:00

^A new report providing the first legal framework for prosecuting Hamas terrorists for the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war during the October 7, 2023, massacre is being presented by the Dinah Project to First Lady Michal Herzog at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.^ ^The report confirms that Hamas systematically used rape and sexual violence as tools of war during the October 7 massacres and is the first to present a legal roadmap for identifying and pursuing justice for the use of sexual violence as a weapon of warfare, which constitutes a crime against humanity.^ ^The gathering of primarily women notably includes former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, who has publicly spoken about being sexually assaulted by her captors in Gaza.^ ^“This report tells the truth as it is — shocking, painful, but necessary. On behalf of all those who were harmed, we are committed to continuing the fight until their cries are heard everywhere and justice is done,” says First Lady Michal Herzog.^ ^“We carry here a universal message: that sexual violence cannot be accepted as a tool of war,” she says, drawing attention to the plight of the remaining 50 hostages, including Inbar Hayman, the single female captive who is believed to be dead.^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-provides-legal-framework-to-prosecute-sexual-violence-during-oct-7-hamas-massacre/

ForgesOfEmpires · 10/07/2025 12:38

Anonimummy · 10/07/2025 12:12

I would say the avoidance of delving into this is worldwide, not just the British press.

We should be asking ourselves why should the press be concerned about the ‘ire of some Muslims’ when reporting factual information.

Is that ever a concern when reporting on events involving followers of other religions?

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The west does this when the rape victims are also Muslim. It really pisses me off. Western feminists do little to speak about this for fear of offending. Women in the middle east and other parts of the world are already voiceless enough. In many cases we can't protest or say anything.

Dangermoo · 10/07/2025 12:24

Anonimummy · 10/07/2025 12:12

I would say the avoidance of delving into this is worldwide, not just the British press.

We should be asking ourselves why should the press be concerned about the ‘ire of some Muslims’ when reporting factual information.

Is that ever a concern when reporting on events involving followers of other religions?

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Good point. We've seen exactly what that ire is capable of, as well - globally.

Anonimummy · 10/07/2025 12:12

mids2019 · 10/07/2025 06:59

I think part of the suppression about the sexual violence on October 7th was due to sensitivity of obviously Muslim men raping and killing non Muslim women upon the most horrendous way. We have now questions about grooming gangs and their reporting in the UK so I wonder if there was some avoidance of delving into too much detail in the British press to avoid the ire of some Muslims?

I would say the avoidance of delving into this is worldwide, not just the British press.

We should be asking ourselves why should the press be concerned about the ‘ire of some Muslims’ when reporting factual information.

Is that ever a concern when reporting on events involving followers of other religions?

Sskka · 10/07/2025 11:27

That’s how most people argue though. They decide what side they like, then they use whatever arguments are to hand to support their team. It’s why threads like this never get anywhere, they might as well be about football.

Dangermoo · 10/07/2025 11:22

Twiglets1 · 10/07/2025 07:48

I guess that is why there is so little interest from the (normally vocal) pro Palestinian supporters on this board in what Hamas did on October 7th in using rape as a weapon of war. With the honourable exception of @Whatsinanamehey who has condemned it unconditionally.

Many prefer to find excuses for Hamas behaviour in triggering this war & don't want to see them as the terrorist rapists they are.

Absolutely this; the way in which Hamas' massacre is swept away, is unreal. Then you get the comparing numbers as to how many have been killed in the current conflict. That mindset of saying oh well, 1200 killed versus hundreds of thousands, says everything about the simple approach some posters take. The worst example I saw was somebody saying it should have been quits, after the barbaric slaughter.

PaxAeterna · 10/07/2025 08:28

I agree. People gloss over people’s pain to try and dismiss, excuse or minimise their suffering to undermine the other “side” unfortunately. We see this from people on both sides both here on this board and across the world.

Ultimately any peace process would acknowledge the history and the pain and suffering and wrongs of both sides. Unfortunately there isn’t the right people in power for that to even begin to happen now.

Original poster

Twiglets1 · 10/07/2025 08:18

Do you still think that what happened on October 7th looks like nothing @girljulian?

OP posts:

Original poster

Twiglets1 · 10/07/2025 08:01

PaxAeterna · 10/07/2025 07:49

I can’t read it. Sounds too awful. But I throughly agree with her. Rape should never be used as a weapon and this type of terrorism should always be condemned no matter what your feelings are on Israel’s conduct at the moment

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Exactly.

Yet some still cannot see why it is not harmless to gloss over what actually happened on October 7th.

Or even worse to show solidarity for Hamas ( “Up Hamas”) like that Irish group, Kneecap.

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PaxAeterna · 10/07/2025 07:49

Twiglets1 · 10/07/2025 07:38

From the same article:

The report aims to influence global public opinion beyond Israel’s judicial system. “Wherever we speak, we’re heard with great respect,” Ben-Or said. “Even if you believe Israel is entirely responsible for the war, you cannot justify this type of terrorism. There’s no ‘but.’ It’s an unequivocal ‘no.’

"Sexual violence during an attack cannot be framed with political arguments.” The project’s message, she stressed, is not political. “Saying ‘yes, but’ implies there are cases where this horrific weapon is legitimate. Our clear stance, which we bring to the international stage, is heard.

"We speak not from a political perspective but from the most basic human one: this cannot be a weapon of war—not in Darfur, not in Congo, not against Yazidis, not in Ukraine and not in Israel.”

I can’t read it. Sounds too awful. But I throughly agree with her. Rape should never be used as a weapon and this type of terrorism should always be condemned no matter what your feelings are on Israel’s conduct at the moment

Original poster

Twiglets1 · 10/07/2025 07:48

I guess that is why there is so little interest from the (normally vocal) pro Palestinian supporters on this board in what Hamas did on October 7th in using rape as a weapon of war. With the honourable exception of @Whatsinanamehey who has condemned it unconditionally.

Many prefer to find excuses for Hamas behaviour in triggering this war & don't want to see them as the terrorist rapists they are.

OP posts:

Original poster

Twiglets1 · 10/07/2025 07:38

From the same article:

The report aims to influence global public opinion beyond Israel’s judicial system. “Wherever we speak, we’re heard with great respect,” Ben-Or said. “Even if you believe Israel is entirely responsible for the war, you cannot justify this type of terrorism. There’s no ‘but.’ It’s an unequivocal ‘no.’

"Sexual violence during an attack cannot be framed with political arguments.” The project’s message, she stressed, is not political. “Saying ‘yes, but’ implies there are cases where this horrific weapon is legitimate. Our clear stance, which we bring to the international stage, is heard.

"We speak not from a political perspective but from the most basic human one: this cannot be a weapon of war—not in Darfur, not in Congo, not against Yazidis, not in Ukraine and not in Israel.”

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Original poster

Twiglets1 · 10/07/2025 07:32

'Freedom fighters don't rape': The making of the landmark report on Hamas' sexual crimes

Retired judge Nava Ben-Or, co-author of Project Dinah, details the systematic use of sexual violence by Hamas as a weapon of war, emphasizing devastating psychological impact and obligation to bring terrorists to trial.

On Hamas’s use of sexual violence as a tactical weapon, Ben-Or emphasized it was clearly systematic from the outset. “As soon as reports, rumors and statements emerged, and evidence from the ground accumulated, it was evident,” she said.

This was corroborated by a UN under-secretary-general’s report on sexual violence in war, which identified a recurring pattern across multiple sites, ruling out isolated incidents. “This wasn’t a sporadic attack by an individual during the invasion of Israel,” she noted.

Equally critical is the international dimension. “By showing these acts stem from genocidal indoctrination, blatant antisemitism and complete dehumanization of the attacked side, it becomes nearly impossible to portray Hamas terrorists as freedom fighters,” she said. “Freedom fighters don’t rape or sexually assault victims. Exposing these acts ensures the true picture isn’t distorted, so history records what happened.”

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryot7hjsxg

'Freedom fighters don't rape': The making of the landmark report on Hamas' sexual crimes

Retired judge Nava Ben-Or, co-author of Project Dinah, details the systematic use of sexual violence by Hamas as a weapon of war, emphasizing devastating psychological impact and obligation to bring terrorists to trial

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryot7hjsxg

OP posts:

mids2019 · 10/07/2025 06:59

I think part of the suppression about the sexual violence on October 7th was due to sensitivity of obviously Muslim men raping and killing non Muslim women upon the most horrendous way. We have now questions about grooming gangs and their reporting in the UK so I wonder if there was some avoidance of delving into too much detail in the British press to avoid the ire of some Muslims?

mids2019 · 10/07/2025 06:51

@ForgesOfEmpires

Excellent posts.

Dangermoo · 09/07/2025 17:32

Imnobody4 · 09/07/2025 13:50

On the issue of proportionality.
This was settled at Nuremburg,known as the 'Dresdon defence'.
The chief defendant, was SS-Gruppenführer Otto Ohlendorf of the
Einsatzgruppen.
A judge immediately pointed out that his own killing spree preceded those bombings. But this would become known as the “Dresden
He was hanged.

Well, if we are talking proportionality, when it comes to rape, oh, you're not talking about the thread topic, are you?

Imnobody4 · 09/07/2025 13:50

On the issue of proportionality.
This was settled at Nuremburg,known as the 'Dresdon defence'.
The chief defendant, was SS-Gruppenführer Otto Ohlendorf of the
Einsatzgruppen.
A judge immediately pointed out that his own killing spree preceded those bombings. But this would become known as the “Dresden
He was hanged.

Original poster

Twiglets1 · 09/07/2025 08:11

Dangermoo · 09/07/2025 07:54

@ForgesOfEmpires has ruffled a few feathers because of her knowledge.

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I know - they have literally been criticised for having a degree in Genocide Studies

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Dangermoo · 09/07/2025 07:54

Twiglets1 · 09/07/2025 07:11

Don't be so ridiculous.

You tried implying that @ForgesOfEmpires wouldn't know as much as you just because you are Jewish and they aren't and now you are trying to imply there is something "suspect" about them being so informed about these issues because they are non Jewish.

Was that the only reason you wanted to know if they were Jewish or not? So you could try to score points over their identity?

How about keeping personal stuff out of it and stick to debating the actual topic?

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@ForgesOfEmpires has ruffled a few feathers because of her knowledge.

Original poster

Twiglets1 · 09/07/2025 07:11

girljulian · 08/07/2025 22:56

I literally never said that? You made that up yourself. And you being so invested in this as a non Jewish person is suspect.

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Don't be so ridiculous.

You tried implying that @ForgesOfEmpires wouldn't know as much as you just because you are Jewish and they aren't and now you are trying to imply there is something "suspect" about them being so informed about these issues because they are non Jewish.

Was that the only reason you wanted to know if they were Jewish or not? So you could try to score points over their identity?

How about keeping personal stuff out of it and stick to debating the actual topic?

OP posts:

Dangermoo · 09/07/2025 07:07

ForgesOfEmpires · 09/07/2025 00:10

Oh sorry, I will send it back and let them know you don't approve.

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Maybe you should address the poster, directly.

Oops, sorry, that was for @ByGreenHiker

ForgesOfEmpires · 09/07/2025 00:11

ByGreenHiker · 08/07/2025 23:42

It's called the argument from authority which is a fallacy.

She should tell you why you're wrong rather than telling you what degree she has.

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Maybe if you read the thread you'd see I wasn't telling her why she was wrong. She asked why I had an interest in antisemitism and I answered that question. Maybe put the wine away for tonight!

ForgesOfEmpires · 09/07/2025 00:10

girljulian · 08/07/2025 23:40

wow it’s so good to know you have a degree in a thing that affects me and not you 🙄

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Oh sorry, I will send it back and let them know you don't approve.

ByGreenHiker · 08/07/2025 23:42

girljulian · 08/07/2025 23:40

wow it’s so good to know you have a degree in a thing that affects me and not you 🙄

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It's called the argument from authority which is a fallacy.

She should tell you why you're wrong rather than telling you what degree she has.

girljulian · 08/07/2025 23:40

ForgesOfEmpires · 08/07/2025 23:23

I have a degree in Genocide Studies and have seen the consequences of antisemitism up close. I speak out against it whenever I see it, so I find it quite odd that you, “as a Jewish person,” take issue with that. I'm also Egyptian, and this conflict is happening just a few miles from what is or was my home - so of course I have a personal interest in it.

Frankly, some of what you’ve said here is bizarre - not just in how it dismisses racism and antisemitism entirely, but in how you ignore what people are actually saying and go straight for fairly thinly veiled personal attacks. That’s a strange approach, especially on an anonymous forum.

Try and stick to the conversation!

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wow it’s so good to know you have a degree in a thing that affects me and not you 🙄

ForgesOfEmpires · 08/07/2025 23:23

girljulian · 08/07/2025 22:56

I literally never said that? You made that up yourself. And you being so invested in this as a non Jewish person is suspect.

Show quote history

I have a degree in Genocide Studies and have seen the consequences of antisemitism up close. I speak out against it whenever I see it, so I find it quite odd that you, “as a Jewish person,” take issue with that. I'm also Egyptian, and this conflict is happening just a few miles from what is or was my home - so of course I have a personal interest in it.

Frankly, some of what you’ve said here is bizarre - not just in how it dismisses racism and antisemitism entirely, but in how you ignore what people are actually saying and go straight for fairly thinly veiled personal attacks. That’s a strange approach, especially on an anonymous forum.

Try and stick to the conversation!