Opinion: Condemning Sexual Violence by Hamas against Women

Editors Note: Alexi Ashe Meyers, based in New York City, is an attorney and advocate who has launched an initiative to raise awareness about the sexual violence committed by Hamas. The views expressed in this article are her own. Read more at CNN for additional opinions.

At the age of 17, Clara Haras lived in Nazi-occupied Tarnopol, Poland, when a German officer offered to save her family on the condition that she have sex with him. After complying, she was raped by the officer. Tragically, the Nazis then carried out the brutal execution of her grandparents, mother, father, two little sisters, and a brother. Remarkably, Clara found the strength to survive the following four years of terror. Despite enduring unspeakable trauma, she continued to embrace her Jewish identity for the next 60 years, refusing to let go of it.

Alexi Ashe Meyers

Lloyd Bishop

Clara is my grandmother. My grandfather also lived through the Holocaust, spending four years in concentration camps. Due to his profession as a dentist, he was forced to search the bodies for gold teeth.

My grandparents often shared aspects of their stories with me during my childhood to ensure that we would never forget. Their narratives were told at the dinner table, in my history class, and at my Hebrew school. However, it was only on my grandmother's deathbed that she revealed the last fragment of her history - her rape by a Nazi. Despite the painful truth of her assault weighing on me, I was spurred on by the collective voices that proclaimed, "Never again."

Then, on October 7th, "never again" became a reality. When Hamas attacked Israel, they used tactics historically employed to subjugate Jewish women and women worldwide, systematically carrying out rape and sexual violence against Israeli women and girls. From the pogroms of the early 20th century to the Holocaust, rape served as a weapon of war, inflicting torture, terror, and suppression upon the Jewish people.

For over twenty years, I have dedicated myself to supporting victims of rape and empowering those who have been forced into the commercial sex trade, sometimes by their own families. People often ask me why I fight against gender violence. My answer remains consistent: My grandparents survived the Holocaust and their experiences profoundly influenced me, instilling in me a duty to oppose hate.

I was brought up with a profound awareness that injustice thrives in silence. If people do not speak out, evil acts with impunity. In the aftermath of October 7th, I have made the choice to speak out. But not everyone has.

If people dont speak up, evil operates with impunity.

Alexi Ashe Meyers

A home destroyed during the attack by Hamas is seen in Kibbutz Be'eri in Israel on October 14.

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There is an abundance of evidence indicating that the attacks on October 7th involved widespread gender-based violence, including rape and sexual mutilation. This evidence consists of forensic examinations of numerous Israeli victims, testimonies from survivors who witnessed Hamas terrorists committing acts of rape and mutilation, as well as testimony from first responders who found murdered Israeli women and girls in conditions indicating sexual assault. Additionally, there is video testimony of a witness who saw a woman being gang raped, along with footage of a young Israeli woman, her pants bloodsoaked, being dragged by her hair by Hamas abductors, and other women being stripped of their clothing.

The evidence compiled by an international law expert leading a civil commission documents horrific atrocities committed by Hamas against women and children on October 7. The disturbing evidence illustrates the unimaginable brutality of the terrorist attacks. Despite being two months since the attacks, many feminist organizations, dedicated to advocating for the rights of women and girls to live free from violence, including rape, have remained surprisingly silent.

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This Hanukkah, the Jewish community would greatly benefit from your assistance. The recent International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women passed by with many choosing to remain silent. As I continue to fight for the rights of vulnerable women and girls in New York and speak out for those in Israel who were silenced on October 7, my grandfathers words resonate with me: "The Nazis were undoubtedly evil monsters, but I hold the bystanders accountable too."

My grandfather was deeply disappointed by those who had the power to speak up but remained silent. He recognized the true evil of the Nazis, but was most hurt by the inaction of his neighbors, shopkeepers, and friends. He refused to accept that humanity could be unwilling to help.

Today, Israeli families are desperate for reassurance that humanity will come to their aid. Still reeling from the horrors of October 7 and consumed by worry for the hostages, they need to hear our voices and know where we stand.

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Innocent people, including women, girls, men, and boys, are still being held captive by Hamas, with many likely experiencing sexual assault. It is vital that people of conscience advocate for their safe return. The events of October 7 were undeniably barbaric, echoing the horrors of the Holocaust. Efforts to deny or undermine these atrocities require strong opposition, particularly from organizations focused on combatting gender-based violence. It is essential to support survivors, even in challenging cases where evidence may be scarce.

Support the victims and survivors of the October 7 attack and those still held captive. Your silence only adds to the suffering of survivors, the erasure of the deceased, and the pain of their families. By speaking out, you give power to the perpetrators. Each of us has a voice, no matter how small.

Contact the White House, your senator, or your representative in Congress. Let them know that the safe return of the hostages is a priority for you and for humanity. Demand a thorough investigation into the sexual violence committed by Hamas terrorists. We cannot allow atrocities to continue in silence. It is time to use your voice.