Free these women now
"I wish feminist groups had responded more promptly and assertively to address these issues with the urgency they deserve," says Nomi Kaltmann.
As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8, social media campaigns have drawn attention to the plight of Israeli women who remain captive in Gaza.
Calls for the release of the hostages in Gaza continue to grow in Israel, as Hamas tells the BBC it does not know how many of the 134 kidnapped are still alive. It is believed 19 women – some deceased – remain in Gaza.
Now a UN report released on March 4 has found “clear and convincing information” that hostages held in Gaza are subjected to sexual violence.
The report was based on the findings of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten and her team who visited Israel from January 29 to February 14.
Regarding Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, the report found there are “reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in multiple locations”.
In Australia, Jewish community leaders expressed outrage at the UN and feminist organisations for failing to adequately condemn Hamas’s sexual violence.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) immediate past president Jillian Segal told The AJN, “As we mark International Women’s Day, this attack on October 7 … and the absence of public condemnation of it by so many women’s and diversity-focused organisations is a shameful stain on our humanity that will never be erased.”
Federal Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender said this week that many members of the Jewish community feel that Hamas’s horrendous crimes “have been downplayed by the international community and this has added to community mistrust of institutions like the UN”.
“The crimes of October 7 including continuing to hold the hostages must be recognised and those responsible must face justice,” Spender said.
“We must continue to push for the release of the remaining hostages as soon as possible.”
Jewish Community Council of Victoria CEO Naomi Levin commented, “It took the UN five months to confirm what has been so comprehensively documented in Israel: that there is ‘clear and convincing’ information that women were subjected to horrifying sexual violence on October 7.
“If there is one silver lining that we can take from October 7 this International Women’s Day, it is that so many Jewish women have stood up to advocate for the release of hostages, to call out the silence of human rights organisations, and to lead grassroots initiatives to strengthen our Jewish community.”
Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance president Nomi Kaltmann added, “I wish feminist groups had responded more promptly and assertively to address these issues with the urgency they deserve. The mantra has always been believe all women. Including Israeli women.”
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