Allegations of sexual violence against Israelis on October 7, 2023 have become a key talking point in attempts to justify the Israeli government’s mass killing of Palestinians. Zionist rhetoric has long used various forms of “liberal” propaganda to validate violence against Palestinians, including “pinkwashing,” or presenting Israel as a haven for LGBTQIA+ rights to excuse its violent occupation of Palestine. These allegations of sexual violence follow the same script: the narrative shifts focus away from Israel’s violence in Gaza and frames its military response as justified self-defense, painting Israel as the victim. Debunked Claims and Dangerous Narratives
Some early reports of rapes on October 7 were proven false, yet these falsehoods continue to circulate in media and political discourse. Even if some reports are accurate, nothing justifies genocide. The December 2023 New York Times article, Screams Without Words presented the alleged assaults in a sensationalized manner, omitting critical context about the broader violence. Importantly, they also failed to fact check the reports, some of which were later debunked. One family that was quoted in the article saying that their family member was raped in the attacks later took back their statement, explaining that they had been manipulated by the reporters. The article was co-authored by Anat Schwartz, an Israeli filmmaker with no previous reporting experience. The New York Times later let her go after finding that she liked tweets that called Palestinians "human animals" and advocated to "turn the [Gaza] strip into a slaughterhouse." Last week, Israel blocked the UN’s investigation into Hamas’ alleged sexual crimes during the October 7 massacre, likely to avoid the uncovering of rapes and other abuses of imprisoned Palestinians by Israeli military. The Israeli Women's Lobby has warned that this may lead to Israel, and not Hamas, being put on the UN's sexual violence blacklist. These narratives echo harmful, racist tropes, framing Palestinian men as violent, hypersexual threats. This sort of rhetoric has been used throughout history, including the vilification of fourteen year old Emmett Till who was brutally murdered in response to claims that he had sexually harassed a White woman. The woman later admitted that she was lying. This is just one example of countless portrayals of Black and Brown men as dangers to white women. As Angela Y. Davis once said, “The fraudulent rape charge stands out as one of the most formidable artifices invented by racism.” Weaponizing Trauma The exploitation of sexual assault to justify military violence is especially painful for many people who have experienced sexual assault. Many feel sickened by the use of their trauma as a political weapon. As the Feminist Solidarity Network for Palestine explains, “Believe women” must be understood through an intersectional lens that recognizes colonial and racial power dynamics. In the Boston area, propaganda like “Rape is not resistance” stickers link to a propaganda film that uses debunked reports to portray Israel’s mass murder of Palestinians as “self defense.” What Can You Do?
Confronting Media Bias Disproportionate coverage of sexual violence allegations against Israelis, compared to assaults against Palestinians by Israeli forces, reflects deep-seated biases. A more balanced and intersectional approach to reporting is critical to countering propaganda. By understanding how these narratives are constructed and resisting their weaponization, we can work toward justice and accountability. Comments are closed.
|