TRIGGER WARNING: The Hamas sexual pogrom and the deafening silence of the world's feminist movements

[question everything]

Days after the October 7 attack by Hamas against Israel, Representative Derrick Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL and combat medic, turned congressman from Wisconsin, visited Israel after the attack and commented, “I can speak with authority. I’ve done multiple combat tours. People were slaughtered at a level not seen since the Holocaust.” The analogy was not an exaggeration. The terrorists burned babies alive in kitchen ovens.

Hamas commanders had issued specific and sadistic orders to the terror squads to kill and kidnap as many Jews as possible. They also issued orders to rape, sodomize, and sexually mutilate the Israeli women they came across. Underage girls were savaged as were their mothers before the eyes of other family members. Grandmothers, even those in wheelchairs, were molested and sodomized. The terrorists filmed their heinous acts in gory snuff films to be shared on social media and streamed on their GoPro cameras. They took their human trophies back to Gaza to be violated, abused, and held for ransom.

(snip)

Rape and sexual assault as a terror tactic in conflict is a war crime. The Geneva Convention specifies that “women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honor, in particular against rape or any form of indecent assault.” The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court states that “rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, or any other form of sexual violence” is a crime against humanity. Many other international treaties and conventions demand that the global community must always safeguard women and girls, including and especially during armed conflict. But the world has been silent about these heinous Hamas crimes against girls and women.

(snip)

In the aftermath of wars in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Ukraine, the crimes against women were central to the international criminal indictments and prosecutions of men responsible for orchestrating the campaign of rapes. It is unlikely that such a special prosecutor will be called to protect Israeli and Jewish women. I have fought the destructive virus of anti-Israel bias of the International Criminal Court for years. The court in The Hague has historically used its jurisprudence as a platform for attacking Israel and not defending it.

More..

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjqmutqv6#autoplay

[hlthe2b]

1. This has been posted multiple times. What is it with blaming Feminists for everything?

When these same women, children, elderly are being MURDERED (in addition to the other atrocities, including rape), it doesn't seem unusual to me that THAT would be the international focus, including for feminists as much as any other woman or man. As horrific as rape is, in a literal SEA of ATROCITIES, that to which one can not survive--i.e., murder--would seem logical to be the focus.

I keep seeing this claim and even prior posts claiming US and International FEMINISTs "don't care about what is happening to those (especially and overwhelmingly Israelis) in this horrific episode because they are not somehow training their focus (in a single mind) on rape." As though FEMINISTS like any other caring human being would focus ONLY on one aspect of this horror and that is somehow their "job" to have that limited focus. Well, this feminist was not just put on the earth to focus on the topic of rape as horrible as it is--nor even violence towards women, but on preventing ALL VIOLENT horror to any and all people. Why anyone would think a group that values equality would have ONLY a singular focus in light of what is happening is unbelievable to me. ...Likewise, if they (whoever "THEY" is purported to be) did not focus all their attention on that singular focus (in this case rape) but are caught up in the desperate need to fight back against all the atrocities and especially brutal murder, whoever is targeted, suggests a true misunderstanding of humanity IMHO. Certainly a total disdain for feminists and quite possibly women in general.

I have to wonder why this keeps being posted here.

[question everything]

3. From the executive director of the Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Crisis Center.

Posted elsewhere but were snipped to concentrate on the main four paragraph:

So many who champion human rights, feminism and social justice – some of whom I have long considered friends or looked up to for their moral courage – have been bending over backwards to justify atrocities and rationalize rape with “BUT…”

“But, you need to remember the broader context…”

“But, Israel has…”

“But, you have to understand the anger caused by…”

No. There is no “but…”

and

At the Sexual Assault Centre at The University of Alberta in Edmonton last week. Samantha Pearson, who until a couple of days ago served as the center’s director, signed an open letter, which, among other things, questioned the veracity of accounts that reported that Hamas committed acts of sexual violence during the October 7th attacks on Israeli civilians.

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-obscene-betrayal-of-israelis-who-survived-and-didnt-survive-rape/

Last, The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Resolution 54/134).

I am sorry that you are so casual about it.

[hlthe2b]

4. This is absolute bullshit.

Reread my post#1 Shame on you for this. I have always thought better of you than this.

[Cha]

7. No. Samantha Pearson is "Bullshit".. Not the insult you posted to the OP.

Last edited Fri Nov 24, 2023, 10:11 PM - Edit history (1)

At the Sexual Assault Centre at The University of Alberta in Edmonton last week. Samantha Pearson, who until a couple of days ago served as the center’s director, signed an open letter, which, among other things, questioned the veracity of accounts that reported that Hamas committed acts of sexual violence during the October 7th attacks on Israeli civilians.

The University of Alberta has fired Samantha Pearson, the director of the Sexual Assault Centre after she signed an open letter penned by ousted Ontario MPP Sarah Jama that calls into question whether Israeli women were subjected to rape and sexual violence during a Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=samantha+pearson+was+fired&form=ANNTH1&refig=ee5c729ad5e441bd95aa6c5dc3eb1f1a&pc=HCTS

[hlthe2b]

8. This dreadful woman HARDLY SPEAKS FOR ALL FEMINISTS... but it does give some

the opportunity (and perceived "cover" to call out ALL FEMINISTS and blame all in an intensely unfair manner.

Shameful conflation and untargeted accusations ...

[cabotnn22]

58. Pearson's attitude reminded me of this video

#rapeisnotresistance

[Cha]

62. Wow.. omg.. I"m so glad I watched that.. ...

it perfectly describes what the Hell is going on.

TY.

I mixed up Pearson's first name, too.. It's Samantha.

I'll go edit it now.

Welcome to DU.

[cabotnn22]

64. Thanks - and yes, it illustrates perfectly what is going on

Even with hamas recording the rapes - no one believes, no one cares.

[Mossfern]

73. I already rec'd this

but it deserves a reply as well.
This brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you for posting this, and I hope that this is being posted in several languages and spread far and wide.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

74. Welcome to DU and thank you for posting this

[Cha]

6. I was wondering who "Ms Pearson" is.. what a a Load of "Bullshit" she is!

At the Sexual Assault Centre at The University of Alberta in Edmonton last week. Samantha Pearson, who until a couple of days ago served as the center’s director, signed an open letter, which, among other things, questioned the veracity of accounts that reported that Hamas committed acts of sexual violence during the October 7th attacks on Israeli civilians.

Mahalo for Posting

[Cha]

5. I'm Grateful it's been posted however many times. Why shouldn't

this heartbreaking news that has previously been covered up get posted as many as different members want to?

[hlthe2b]

9. It is shameful untargeted conflation of one person to the whole. Do you think DU's feminists are

likewise deserving of this broad swath of accusation, Cha? THe article is certainly implying ALL feminists think in lockstep.

[Cha]

11. Of course NOT. I posted about Sarah Peason. only.

I'm glad she was FIRED.

[mcar]

14. I have to wonder why people here and elsewhere

who think Israel is committing war crimes say nothing about Hamas atrocities- except complain that they are even being brought up.

[hlthe2b]

15. What does your comment have to do with the OP and the article's blaming of all Feminists

for the horror in the ME--including the atrocities. FOCUS. The World's Women--whether Feminist or not are not HAMAS. They/WE are not the enemy. Just stop it. There are clear enemies here. Focus.

[canetoad]

10. You should be blaming

The people doing the raping. Not other women, not feminists. Blame the rapists.

[hlthe2b]

12. Thank you.

[Cha]

13. Of course the "Rapists" are Blamed.. I Blame HAMAS for Every GD thing

Including starting the War on Isarel.

But I'm also grateful Sarah Person Got Fired.

At the Sexual Assault Centre at The University of Alberta in Edmonton last week. Samantha Pearson, who until a couple of days ago served as the center’s director, signed an open letter, which, among other things, questioned the veracity of accounts that reported that Hamas committed acts of sexual violence during the October 7th attacks on Israeli civilians.

The University of Alberta has fired Samantha Pearson, the director of the Sexual Assault Centre after she signed an open letter penned by ousted Ontario MPP Sarah Jama that calls into question whether Israeli women were subjected to rape and sexual violence during a Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=samantha+pearson+was+fired&form=ANNTH1&refig=ee5c729ad5e441bd95aa6c5dc3eb1f1a&pc=HCTS

[question everything]

17. Thank you

[question everything]

16. This is a given. Where are all the ones who called for action about the girls in Nigeria

who were only “kidnapped,” not being decapitated while being raped?

Where are the ones rallying against Bill Crosby and Harry Weinstein but, it seems, could not care less about the unspeakable acts by the Hamas terrorists?

I am having a hard time even debating this.

[hlthe2b]

20. You are having a "hard time" because you seem to blame the world's women esp Feminists for the

atrocities being done TO them. Where is this seeming hatred and anger toward women-- in the article posted in the OP and from several others--coming from? You need to focus on Hamas. It was MEN, specifically HAMAS, who DID this to innocents, yet it is the world's women--specifically Feminists-- true to form, who get the blame and derision. A ridiculous comment from one misguided academic is now conflated with the atrocities committed by terrorist MEN upon more than a thousand innocents and likewise used to smear women of all backgrounds who fight for equality around the world.

[question everything]

24. Of course men are committing the atrocities so why are there women who claim "but?"

Many were killed, burned alive, decapitated but there were especially sadistic acts against women that should not be “included” in these atrocities, as part of “fighting the oppression” that, sadly, we have seen on these pages.

[hlthe2b]

25. Yet ALL your contempt and vehement anger is directed toward WOMEN because of one foolish

and very non-representative academic's ridiculous comments-- who was rightfully dismissed from the institution as a result. Not the men committing the atrocities, but women everywhere who might be feminist in their outlook. That appears to go so far beyond blaming the victims for what befalls them to derision and blame of an entire gender for not stopping it. Good gawd.

[question everything]

54. I suppose that you will never accept the simple notion that when women in Israel, but

not in other parts of the world, are being brutally and sadistically sexually assaulted, being in “snuff” movies, should alarm women everywhere.

The Trigger warning that I put in the OP really was about the parts that I snipped.

So be happy in your definition of a “feminist.”

Men were not subjected to the these barbarism, only women.

There is really nothing much to add and, sadly, you are in the majority of feminists.

[hlthe2b]

55. So you are not denying a total disdain for women? How damned ugly.

How can a DUer, male or female call out all feminists--all women for the stupid comments of one academician. WTF? You are more upset at a few foolish academians and using that broad brush to smear all women--not even limited to feminists however indefensible that alone would be-- rather than direct your anger at Hamas for ALL the horrendous atrocities. Better to blame women. Okay. I got you and I am DONE.

[question everything]

59. No, I have to respond. It is not one person. It is the total lack of women groups

commenting on these atrocities. The ones who marched on Washington after the 2016 elections; the ones protesting abortion, the#MeToo groups. Where are they?

The response among the majority of groups committed to ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) was threefold: to keep quiet, to disbelieve the victims, or to insinuate they deserved their fate. In the words of 140 American “prominent feminist scholars”, to stand in solidarity with Israeli women is to give in to “colonial feminism”.

https://unherd.com/2023/11/metoo-unless-youre-a-jew/

[cabotnn22]

60. The lack of empathy or sympathy towards Israeli women is disheartening

I don't understand it. I mean, I "understand" why..but I'm upset it is tolerated when it wouldn't be against any other group of people.

[hlthe2b]

63. There is no lack of empathy or sympathy. There is a focus on blaming everyone BUT HAMAS

and that is damned ridiculous.

[lostnfound]

69. Might as well blame Satan though. They are beyond the reach of our outrage

That’s why everyone looks for others to blame. Hamas answers to no one but its own funding sources.

This article apparently blames Michele Obama for something too. That’s a wrong turn.

[hlthe2b]

61. Where are the MEN marching? You love blaming women for the acts of terrorist MEN!

and give total lip service to any concern whatsoever to the actual victims as long as they provide an excuse to excoriate and blame the women of the world (there is a term for that)-- who apparently are supposed to stop what the overwhelming MALE-DOMINATED government of Israel could not against male HAMAS terrorists. You seem to think feminists should ONLY be concerned about rape, rather than the full range of atrocities being committed to women, children, the elderly, and yes, men. How on earth can you explain that expectation that limits basic humanity? Yet you give MEN of the world a pass for not similarly coming out to express anger at what has been done specifically to women.

Your anger toward women-- rather than blaming HAMAS is very very very telling and not a pretty picture. Frankly, that you continue to do so belies any sincere concern of your own for those victimized women.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

65. Can't access the article

But found this on the unherd twitter:

'As Christmas approaches, Trump can still present himself as a misunderstood messiah.'

So let's see....hates feminists, and women, obviously, and sees Slobby as a "misunderstood messiah."

Sounds peachy.

[Cha]

53. Rec.. That "Letter" was Signed by 2100 people..

Canadian sexual assault centre boss sacked after signing letter denying Hamas rape cases

Snip//

The letter, signed by 2,100 people, was authored by Sarah Jama, a member of Ontario's provincial parliament and Susan Kim, a city councillor in Victoria, British Columbia and addressed to all members of Canada's parliament.

It reads: “We, the undersigned, residing in so-called Canada, urge Canadian political leaders to end their complicity in the ongoing massacres and genocide in Gaza, Occupied Palestine.”

The letter took particular issue with NDP leader and Canada's leader of the opposition Jagmeet Singh, who “repeated the unverified accusation that Palestinians were guilty of sexual violence.”

Link to tweet

https://www.thejc.com/news/world/canadian-sexual-assault-centre-boss-sacked-after-signing-letter-denying-hamas-rape-cases-edsg8yhx

[hlthe2b]

56. So 2100 people is representative of all the world's feminists? let alone women in general?

What the hell, CHa? How is it that you believe blaming anyone except HAMAS for those atrocities is appropriate? Do you realize that continuing this may make MORE women targets at a time when we already are dealing with violent and hate crimes targeting Jews and Muslims here and elsewhere? Now let's blame women---for the atrocities committed by a male terrorist group targeting their own gender. Gotcha. You seem far more angry at a few idiotic and deluded academians than those actually committing the atrocities against women. That is nuts.

[treestar]

68. The zone is flooded

It wasn’t for those issues when they happened.

[yardwork]

18. It's a reasonable question.

[ExciteBike66]

19. This is a bit absurd...

Hamas is guilty of terrorist murder, for which crime they will all eventually fry. There is no need for any outcry concerning any other crimes, there is no need for any legal arguments. Hamas as an organisation has already admitted to much worse...

[Cha]

22. OMG.. There Most Certainly IS A "Need".

[claudette]

42. And, yet

there are those who rationalize the Israeli government's killing of (so far) over 11,000 innocents. THAT is a crime, too.

[Mossfern]

44. Do you believe that Hamas

raped, tortured and killed Israeli women?
That's what this thread is about - not the Israeli government.

[Cha]

52. And YET ANOTHER DEFLECTION Form the Torture &

Rape of Israeli Women.

[SoFlaBro]

21. Not sure how women would EVER support fucking Hamas who loves rape and makes it a part of their daily lives.

[Arazi]

37. Oh there are millions of women in the pro-Palestinian protests

Who happily defend it as Palestinian “resistance” and Israelis “deserve” whatever happened on Oct 7th.

Hamas atrocities have been glossed over in the name of “resistance”. Nay, their actions have even been celebrated around the world with plenty of women - including many who would normally recoil about the sadism of Hamas - rejoicing that Hamas struck so *hard*

[SoFlaBro]

47. Disgusting. Hamas is 100% pissed on shit. Rapists and pedophiles and murderers. Women supporting that is a disgrace.

Anyone supporting it is a disgrace. I stand against Hamas on behalf of women and decency.

[JI7]

23. There are phonies in various movements

things like this expose their phoniness.

[claudette]

26. Horrible indeed

If proven true, I ask, should the Israeli government’s response be to slaughter thousands of innocent Palestinians who had nothing to do with the atrocity while trying to defeat Hamas?

America didn’t savagely attack innocents in Saudi Arabia when bin Laden’s followers killed almost 3000 innocent Americans.

Get Hamas. Yes. But don’t destroy the entire society of Palestinians.

[FBaggins]

28. How?

We weren’t able to stop the Nazis without killing many German civilians. Stories like the OP remind us that we are in no sense talking about “freedom fighters”. Hamas is every bit as terrible (arguably more so) as those Nazis were and they intentionally hide behind their own civilians.

How then shall they “get Hamas”? It’s easy to say “don’t kill civilians” - but nobody seems to have an answer that isn’t a disgustingly disguised variation of “let them get away with it”

[claudette]

29. There are other ways

but Nuttayahoo isn't interested in them. For one, the Israeli intelligence is lauded, so why can't they try to infiltrate and destroy Hamas that way? Those who aren't horrified by what is happening in Gaza to innocent civilians (by a military that isn't even fighting another "military&quot seem to think those of us who care about innocent civilians want Hamas to "get away" with what they did on October 7th. We DO NOT.

What, in your mind mind, justifies destroying the entire infrastructure of a society while killing thousands of innocent Palestinians (ten times the number of Israelis who were murdered by Hamas)?

SOMEBODY needs to talk to Nuttyahoo to allow a permanent ceasefire.

[FBaggins]

31. So name one

Waving your hands and just saying “Mossad can work miracles” is no different from saying “just do it”. You claim that there are multiple options and Nuttayahoo just isn’t interested… so you must have lots of examples of him rejecting something.

What, in your mind mind, justifies destroying the entire infrastructure of a society while killing thousands of innocent Palestinians (ten times the number of Israelis who were murdered by Hamas)?

I haven’t tried to justify any such thing. What’s justified is war. Civilians often die in wars. Both sides to the conflict have obligations to limit such casualties… and when one side takes every option to avoid those casualties and the other wants civilians to die… civilians are going to die. But those seats are on the heads of the side that wanted them to die.

The real question is what could possibly justify that?

[claudette]

32. If

Israel has not been able to defeat Hamas in all these years how do you expect ME to know? All I know is that the slaughter of thousands of innocent Palestinians is NOT the answer. It is useless to continue this. You have your view and I have mine.

P.S. I do not believe that anyone in Gaza wants innocents. Especially children. To die.

[FBaggins]

33. You are flat incorrect

They definitely want innocents (particularly children) to die.

Easy proof is that they did so in large numbers that were not collateral damage. They were intentionally targeted. But the only victory they are capable of is the PR value of their own civilians dying… so they definitely act as though they want it.

There’s no rational debate of this fact. When h the IDF warns civilians that they’re going to bomb a given building… and then they drop leaflets saying the same thing… and then they call all the civilian cell phones in the building and warn them..: and then they “knock” with a small explosive… and yet Hamas tells them to stay… there can be no conclusion otherthan that they want them to die

[tritsofme]

35. Color me not surprised that this person actually believes that.

[claudette]

39. That is truly

absurd. Bye

[FBaggins]

49. Glad you came around

Yes - the claim that nobody in Gaza wants to do what hundreds of them just did was truly absurd.

[yagotme]

34. You know that Hamas IS IN Gaza, right?

I do not believe that anyone in Gaza wants innocents. Especially children. To die.

[kelly1mm]

70. Wait, didn't you just say above that there has to be a way to defeat Hamas without killing Palestinian

civilians that Hamas uses as human shields, then when asked to elaborate you just say you don't know?

If there was such an easy way to get rid of Hamas without killing Palestinians that Hamas uses as human shields why is nobody saying what that plan would be?

Nobody in the US
Nobody in the Palestinian diaspora
Nobody in Israel
Nobody in Europe
Nobody in the Middle East

This has to be the best kept secret of all time!
Or, maybe there just isn't another way to be rid of Hamas without killing some/many of the Palestinians they use as human shields.

[Mossfern]

45. "If proven true"

Really?

[Stargazer99]

27. Palestine put Hamas in power-that is where the responsibility is located

there are results from what you do...

[claudette]

30. Yes, that's right

Blame the victims. Who else could they vote for? Does the world show that it cares what happens there when the Palestinians are under Israel's control? Besides, the CHILDREN who are dying didn't vote for anyone.

[tritsofme]

36. Gazans overwhelmingly voted for Hamas over Fatah. That's who they could have voted for.

[claudette]

38. However

Babies don’t vote

[tritsofme]

40. You asked "Who else could they vote for?" I provided the answer.

[claudette]

41. And, I said

But babies don't vote - even for the one you mentioned - but are being murdered by Israeli government's bombs.

[tritsofme]

43. I guess you really didn't want an answer to your question then?

Whatever.

[FBaggins]

50. Of course not

Has there ever been a war where there weren’t babies as part of the population?

The Nazis had lots of babies. Could this nuttiness really propose that war is unjustified if there are babies in existence in a culture?

[Mossfern]

46. Neither do Israel babies

yet they were murdered mutilated and burned to death - up close and personal.
Not as collateral damage.

[lostnfound]

71. 17 years ago. Before 40% were born and before another 30% were of age

Which means that MAYBE 15% to 20% of those alive voted for Hamas.

[Mossfern]

48. Again...

If Hamas has not broken the cease fire that was already in effect on October 7th, then this would not have happened.

Hamas targeted children, babies and elderly - raped, tortured, burned alive, gouged out eyes, murdered and documented their atrocities, took hostages - all which Palestinians CHEERED about.

[stonecutter357]

51. bullshit OP !

[question everything]

57. So you don't have any problem with women in Israel, but not in other parts of the world

being brutally and sadistically being assaulted and appearing in “snuff” movies?

Just wants to know.

Most posters here usually are more eloquent in their opinions,

[MorbidButterflyTat]

66. What makes you think

"...women in Israel, but not in other parts of the world (are) being brutally and sadistically...assaulted and appearing in “snuff” movies..."

Seriously? You don't think that happens all over the world, and to children, too? Only to women in Israel? WTF?

That's enough foolishness for me. I'm out.

[FBaggins]

72. You probably should have been "out" before posting rather than after

"Meh - this happens all the time" is not a good look.

[keithbvadu2]

67. 1+