On December 4, Hadassah co-sponsored a very moving special session hosted by the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations to bear witness to testimony about Hamas’ acts of gender-based violence and to demand action.
There is overwhelming evidence that Hamas terrorists mutilated, raped and murdered innocent Israeli women and girls during their brutal October 7 attack on Israel.
Hadassah and the Hadassah Foundation first spoke out about this issue in October to condemn these atrocious acts and demand that international women’s organizations take action. At the same time, Hadassah joined nearly 200 women’s organizations on a letter demanding action from the UN.
“As the largest Jewish women’s organization and the largest Jewish women's foundation in the United States, Hadassah and the Hadassah Foundation call on UN Women to speak out for the protection of Israeli women and to condemn Hamas’ inhuman attacks, denounce rape and call on Hamas to immediately release all hostages,” said Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow and CEO Naomi Adler, together with Hadassah Foundation Board Chair Audrey Weiner and Director Stephanie Blumenkranz.
For over six weeks, the UN, UN Women and other organizations that tout themselves as champions for women stayed silent on this issue. The confounding and hurtful silence signaled to the world that when rape, even brutal and lethal rape, is committed against women and girls in Israel, it can be justified, denied and even celebrated.
Volunteers Frieda Rosenberg and Judy Shereck were among the 15 key Hadassah leaders to attend the powerful December 4 session.
“The stories and testimony I heard, the visions I saw on screen — butchered, genital mutilation, body parts separated, and more and more atrocities committed against the innocent, beautiful bodies and souls of Israeli women and girls. They bring tears and they bring chills. I will never forget,” said Hadassah National Education and Advocacy Coordinator Frieda Rosenberg.
“It took my breath away just listening to the horrific atrocities on October 7. Hadassah will not be silent. We will speak loudly for the women who were brutally raped, butchered and murdered, and demand accountability,” said Hadassah Zionist Advocacy Chair Judy Shereck.
First responders, IDF morgue staff, human rights activists and Yael Richert, a superintendent with the Israeli National Police, were among those who testified with firsthand accounts of Hamas’ horrific acts of gender-based violence.
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg and other speakers unequivocally condemned Hamas for using rape as a tool of war and called for accountability.
After pressure from Hadassah and other groups, UN Women released a statement condemning the brutal attacks by Hamas, noting their alarm at the accounts of gender-based atrocities and sexual violence and supporting an investigation into these accounts.
We cannot let these acts of war be forgotten, and we must hold Hamas accountable.
Hadassah continues to call for the release of all hostages, especially the women and girls who are still being held by Hamas. At the same time, we will continue to speak against gender-based violence and urge policymakers to demand that international organizations act to protect Israeli women and girls. We will advocate for a complete, unbiased investigation and vigorous prosecution of these horrific war crimes.
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