President Joe Biden strongly condemned Hamas on Tuesday for its “appalling” use of sexual violence against women and girls in Israel during the October 7th attack. Referring to accounts from survivors and witnesses, the president revealed that women and girls were subjected to repeated sexual assaults by Hamas, with their bodies being mutilated while they were still alive.
President Joe Biden expressed strong condemnation for Hamas terrorists inflicting extensive pain and suffering on women and girls, ultimately leading to their murder. Speaking at a campaign reception in Boston, Biden emphasized the collective responsibility of governments, international organizations, civil society, and businesses to unequivocally denounce the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas terrorists.
The October 7th attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of approximately 240 hostages. Reports of sexual assault and mutilation have continued to emerge since the incident. Israel’s justice ministry stated that the victims suffered torture, physical abuse, rape, burning alive, and dismemberment. Despite these accounts, Hamas has denied the allegations.
Biden’s remarks coincided with a gathering at the United Nations’ headquarters in New York, where 800 people, including activists and diplomats from 40 countries, highlighted the violence against women. Notably, these stories have received limited attention from human rights groups and the media amid the broader context of the ongoing war. strongly condemned Hamas
“Silence is complicity,” said Sheryl Sandberg, the former Meta executive who helped organize the presentation alongside Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. “On Oct. 7, Hamas brutally murdered 1,200 souls, and in some cases, they first raped their victims.”
On Tuesday, the president attributed the breakdown of a recently negotiated deal to Hamas, citing their refusal to release the remaining young women as the primary reason for the deal’s collapse. The agreement had initially included a temporary halt to hostilities and the release of several hostages.
Following the resumption of fighting, Israel has expanded its ground operations in southern Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 16,000 people have been killed in Israel’s attacks.