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Masha Gessen’s recent column in The New Yorker, “What We Know About the Weaponization of Sexual Violence on October 7th,” outrageously misrepresents the horrors of that day and unjustly accuses Israel of weaponizing the atrocities committed by Hamas.
Gessen’s piece suggests that Israel is exaggerating the brutality of Hamas’s attack, which included widespread sexual violence against Israeli civilians, and portrays Hamas’s actions as less severe than claimed.
On October 7, Hamas launched a coordinated attack on Israel, resulting in the brutal murder of thousands, including the sexual assault of many women and girls.
Gessen’s column, however, dismisses these accounts by questioning the validity of reports from survivors and first responders.
The column grossly misrepresents the reality of the attack by quoting Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, who insidiously puts the sexual violence into “historical context” by suggesting it is a common wartime occurrence and even implying it was used by Israeli soldiers in 1948. Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s assertion that “abuses and sexual abuses happen” in wars and her dismissive attitude toward evidence—stating, “I do not need evidence, and I don’t want to go check facts”—further distorts the truth.
This attempt to downplay the violence and accuse Israel of using it for propaganda is deeply troubling and disrespectful to the victims.
1/🧵 Why is @mashagessen denying Hamas war crimes in the @NewYorker? The rape of Israeli women and girls by Hamas terrorists on October 7 are not just allegations. They are well-documented with witness testimony.https://t.co/NMyaI85CMs
— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) July 21, 2024
The New Yorker’s publication of Gessen’s piece contributes to a dangerous double standard.
Denying the severity of the sexual violence on October 7 is not only an affront to the victims but also an insult to the global community’s commitment to recognizing and addressing war crimes.
Hamas is a terrorist organization responsible for heinous acts, and to suggest otherwise is both misleading and morally reprehensible.
We urge The New Yorker to issue a formal condemnation of Gessen’s column and to uphold journalistic integrity by accurately representing the brutal reality of October 7.
The truth must be honored, and the victims’ suffering must be acknowledged with the gravity it deserves.
Demand The New Yorker correct this harmful narrative and stand against the denial of these atrocities.
Email The New Yorker at help@newyorker.com
Sample email
Subject: Urgent: Retract Masha Gessen’s Misleading Column on October 7.
Dear Editors,
I am deeply concerned about Masha Gessen’s recent article, which falsely accuses Israel of weaponizing the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on October 7.
This misleading portrayal minimizes the horrific reality of the attack and disrespects the victims’ suffering.
I urge The New Yorker to issue a formal condemnation of this article and ensure that such harmful misinformation is corrected. The gravity of these atrocities must be accurately represented and acknowledged.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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