Hamas rape Of Women

Silence on Sexual Violence: The Overlooked Atrocities Against Women by Terrorist Organizations

By Marie o’Nealle

New York, NY - Amid global outrage over the ongoing war in Gaza and the rise of the pro-Palestinian movement across Western nations, a glaring silence remains: the systematic violence against women perpetrated by terrorist organizations. While calls for justice, ceasefires, and political change dominate public discourse, there is an unsettling lack of focus on the brutal sexual crimes committed by groups such as Hamas, particularly during the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israeli civilians.

According to forensic evidence collected by Israeli authorities, Hamas militants engaged in widespread sexual violence during their assault on Israeli communities. Reports have emerged detailing horrifying acts of rape, mutilation, and assault against Israeli women and girls. The brutality of these crimes led to international condemnation, yet discussions of these atrocities have largely been buried under the weight of political activism that often refuses to acknowledge the suffering of these victims. Hamas has denied the allegations, but the evidence presented by investigators and testimonies from witnesses tell a different story.

Despite the graphic and well-documented nature of these crimes, the response from global human rights organizations and feminist groups has been shockingly muted. The same voices that champion women’s rights and speak out against gender-based violence have largely remained silent when it comes to the sexual atrocities committed against Israeli women. Meanwhile, the pro-Palestinian movement, which has gained massive traction across universities, social media, and political spheres, often downplays or outright ignores these reports. The emphasis on condemning Israel’s military response has left little room for acknowledging the violence Hamas inflicted on women—both as part of their terror campaign and in their broader rule over Gaza, where women’s rights have long been suppressed.

This is not an isolated issue. Historically, terrorist organizations, including ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Taliban, have used sexual violence as a weapon of war. Women in territories controlled by these groups have faced rape, forced marriages, and systematic oppression, yet these violations are frequently sidelined in favor of geopolitical arguments that paint these organizations as either resistance movements or as lesser evils in broader conflicts. The reluctance to address these crimes, whether out of political expediency or ideological alignment, leaves countless victims without justice or recognition.

The lack of global outcry over the crimes committed by Hamas against women exposes a deep hypocrisy in modern activism. It raises an uncomfortable question: do the rights of women only matter when they fit within a convenient political framework? If movements truly stand for justice, then all victims deserve to be acknowledged, regardless of their nationality or the identity of their attackers. The silence on this issue is not just a failure of advocacy; it is a betrayal of the very principles that movements for women’s rights claim to uphold.