UN Women finally condemns Hamas attacks, sexual violence on October 7

Israeli FM Eli Cohen called on UN Women executive director Sima Bahaus to resign.

By SAM HALPERN

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, speaks during the United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine with a focus on women, at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S., April 11, 2022.(photo credit: REUTERS/BRENDAN MCDERMID)

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, or UN Women, has condemned the Hamas October 7 massacre in a Friday statement, nearly two months after the terrorist organization’s brutal rampage of rape, murder, and kidnappings.

“We unequivocally condemn the brutal attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7,” UN Women wrote. “We are alarmed by the numerous accounts of gender-based atrocities and sexual violence during those attacks.”

The women’s rights organization made a similar statement in late November condemning the Hamas attacks, but quickly deleted the post.

Earlier, on November 8, UN Women made an X post highlighting Isra al-Modallal, the first female spokesperson for Hamas.

International women’s organizations have been roundly criticized by Jewish, Israeli, and other groups since October 7 for their relative silence on the brutality faced by Israeli women during Hamas’s rampage in southern Israel.

On Saturday, after the UN Women statement condemning Hamas, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen took to X to slam the UN women’s organization.

A screenshot from the short clip ''Rape is NOT Resistance'' produced by Israelis to depict the double standard in the world's approach to the disasters that occurred on October 7. (credit: Roms Studio)

“The conduct of UN Women, as well as the UN Secretary-General and other UN agencies, since the October 7 massacre, is disgraceful.,” Cohen wrote. “UN Women’s message is weak and late when it comes after almost two months of silence and ignoring the war crimes, crimes against humanity, and sexual crimes committed by the terrorist organization, Hamas.”

Cohen called on UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, to resign

.

Backlash for ignoring Jewish victims of sexual assualt

The initial reaction from UN Women to Hamas’s attack came on October 7 from Bahous, who took to X to write, “The escalation of hostilities in #Israel & the Occupied Palestinian Territory #OPT is gravely concerning. It is imperative that all civilians, including women & girls, are protected.”

Bahaus proceeded to call for “immediate de-escalation,” but did not name, or assign any blame, to Hamas.Not until nearly two weeks later did UN Women first make an X post wherein the organization called for a release of the hostages taken by Hamas.

Infographics videos highlighting the sentiment of neglect and betrayal felt by many Israeli women, such as one posted to the Instagram account “tiroche_art_auctions,” have gone viral in recent weeks on social media.

Trends, such as the X hashtag, #metoo_unless_ur_a_jew, have likewise been spread to underscore the perceived apathy on behalf of leading women’s organizations to the sexual assaults endured by Israeli women.

20/12/2023 by JERUSALEM POST

https://www.jpost.com/international/article-776233