Hamas and 'genocidal sexual violence'

Sexual violence is a huge problem in warfare, but the perpretators don't usually film themselves committing these atricioties, as some Hamas members did on 7 October.

The response of the Israeli army to the attack does not negate the appalling violence carried out that day.

I think most of us on FWR and other feminist discussions are aware of the fact that women and children are the victims of sexual violence in war (and natural catastrophies).

And that includes UK soldiers.

What happened after the attack on 7 October (and I am sure this happens elsewhere) those tasked with dealing the horrors were not and did not look at what they say from a VAW perspective.

But within I think 24 hours or so, a group of Israeli feminists, some active in rape crisis support work' got together and went to as many of the scenes of violence and recorded what they saw and what it indicated about sexual violence.

This was published in full in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz but was not considered an "official" report. There was a thread based on the article on FWR.

At some later date UN representatives asked to make a full investigation but were refused permision by the Israeli Government to come to Israel to carry out an investigation.

So because the UN hadn't done their own report, and the only existing one at that time was the voluteer feminist one, there was no "official" comment from the UN. This is what led to the endless newspaper reporting about how no women's groups had condemned Hamas. (Not forgetting all the other areas of the world where women and being subjected to sexual violence in war zones, but nobody cares because they are in Africa or Asia.)

As far as I know this recent article is not the actual report but a long extract published in the Times last saturday https://www.thetimes.com/article/2e4199e3-ef9f-43d6-91c7-353cc731e203 ( https://archive.is/Q8yQe )

And if this report makes a difference to how the men in charge on both or how ever many sides in an area of armed conflict respond to acts of sexual violence against women, that would be a break through.

But some of you might remember there was a summit in London under the joint auspices of Angelina Jolie and William Hague that was attended by representative of any number of governments all swearing and signing up to ending these acts of violence. Sadly, if anything, it seems to have got worse. Or maybe there are more areas on violence in the world.

(I've found a link. This international committment was 11 years ago. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/africa/angelina-jolie-uks-hague-vow-action-against-sexual-violence-in-war-idUSKBN0EL0PX/ )

Your point seems to be that, according to you, this is the first time this issue - sexual violence in war - has been brought up here, and the OP is somehow a hypocrite for only mentioning it now. That’s a massive leap of assumptions. You’ve assumed this hasn’t been brought up before (it has) and the OP hasn’t seen this as important before (she has). So why the need to be so confrontational about it? The OP has posted it because it’s obviously a new article on the topic. Does this specific news story only warrant attention if there’s a history of similar stories brought to attention here? How bizarre.

Can you explain how posting this makes someone a hypocrite?

I think I’ve been clear on my point. Why is this only an issue now?

Clearly missed the point didn’t you.

Do calm down. Calling out hypocritical behaviour is hardly misogynist. What about all the women and children this happened to before October 7th? Why is no one advocating for them?

Of course only very special people are allowed on the FEMINIST board.. why do we even need to read this

What is wrong with you?

Feminists have been taking notice of all of these instances, very carefully, for a very long time. If you have not noticed this before, perhaps that says something about YOU? It tales a particular kind of vile misogynist to whatabout re sexual violence targeted as is disproportionally is against women - ON the FEMINIST board.

I can't really face the reporting on this because it hurts so much that it doesn't seem to matter to so many people.

(Didn't take any time for one example right here, at 00:06. Sexual violence has been happening since the dawn of time so we should ... what? not discuss it? old news? let everything just keep going the same way? Who cares?

You know what? If you don't care, why don't you not read this thread? Go off and start your own thread about the violence against women that rises to worthiness in your world.)

Did you take this from the CITME thread? Sexual violence in war has been happening since the dawn of time. Why all of a sudden are we taking notice just because Hamas committed the atrocious act?