In an unprecedented initiative by Israel's Foreign Ministry, a comprehensive campaign has been unveiled to shed light on the harrowing sexual atrocities committed by Hamas, targeting the Arab-speaking world with compelling evidence and testimonies. This strategic move, a first of its kind, aims to penetrate the Arab media's silence on the matter, leveraging the Ministry's expansive digital footprint, which spans over 20 channels and reaches millions across the Middle East.
Central to the campaign are the heart-wrenching testimonies from survivors and witnesses of the sexual violence that marked the tragic events of October 7. Israeli women, in a bold act of solidarity and defiance, have come forward to narrate these stories in Arabic, ensuring no detail, however gruesome, is omitted. One testimony recounts the horror witnessed at the Nova music festival, painting a vivid picture of the chaos and brutality inflicted, likening the scene to an "apocalypse of bodies."
Rape Deniers: Evidence of Hamas Sexual Assault Ignored Despite Proof (Part One)
— Algemeiner (@Algemeiner) April 10, 2024
"Where there are anti-Jewish atrocities, there are deniers. And on Oct 7, there were atrocities, including...brutal acts of sexual violence."
By @GileadIni of @CAMERAorg https://t.co/H5gP8wmIMd
The campaign draws a chilling parallel between the modus operandi of Hamas and ISIS, particularly highlighting the shared tactics of abduction, sexual violence, and dehumanization, previously seen in the atrocities against Yazidi women in Iraq. This comparison aims to resonate deeply within the Arab world, drawing attention to the severity and commonality of such crimes across different contexts.
To bolster the campaign's credibility and impact, the initiative includes the translation of numerous articles and the report by UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, which confirms the sexual assaults during the massacre. These materials are hosted on an Arabic language website, designed to serve as a comprehensive resource and stimulate public discourse on the issue.
RAPE…SADISTIC TORTURE…DEMONIC EVIL…MURDER…
— ChanaSimcha (@CSimcha613) April 10, 2024
Hamas Nazi-Rapist-ISIS & their collaborator filth are not only *war criminals* - they are all guilty of the most horrific
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
We will never forget.
We will never forgive. https://t.co/AxJTgjBhIR
The silence of the mainstream Arab media on the sexual crimes committed by Hamas has been notable, with allegations of censorship and bias further complicating the narrative. For instance, the Qatari network Al-Jazeera has come under scrutiny for its coverage, accused of initially charging the IDF with similar crimes, only to later retract these statements without apology.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz emphasizes the critical need for these crimes to gain international recognition, citing the Arab media's reluctance to cover Hamas's actions, particularly the sexual crimes, as perpetuating an anti-Israel narrative. David Saranga, Director of the Digital Diplomacy Bureau, reflects on the shift from 'soft' diplomatic topics to addressing the harsh realities of sexual violence and its cultural sensitivities within the Arab world. A recent poll in England showed that most Muslim men dismiss the rapes as either being a fabrication or "unimportant".
đź”´ Only one in four British Muslims believe Hamas committed murder and rape in Israel, report reveals https://t.co/NxyBFYAZN5
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 6, 2024
The Foreign Ministry's efforts extend across multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, reaching over five million followers from the Arab world. Since the onset of the war, the Ministry has published over 5,000 posts in Arabic, garnering more than half a billion views, in a concerted effort to bring these atrocities to light and challenge the narratives that seek to overshadow them.