According to statements made to the Funke Media Group, the recent report detailing sexual violence connected to the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, highlights the critical need for global protection of women and girls. Sharren Haskel, the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, argued that safeguarding the dignity of women is not merely a regional issue but a fundamental global necessity, demanding an unwavering moral position from every nation.
Haskel stated that the report reveals “the true face of an ideology that considers sexual violence a legitimate tool of terror” and she called upon the international community to address the issue with greater urgency.
Adding to the context, Lars Castelucci, the German Federal Government’s Human Rights Commissioner, noted that Hamas’s actions have left “deep wounds” on survivors and within Israeli society. Castelucci asserted that using sexual violence as a weapon in conflicts is a particularly insidious form of harm against which the world must unite in its efforts. He mentioned that at the EU level, Germany is advocating for sanctions against Hamas organizations, partly due to the documented use of sexual violence.
Haskel reiterated that given the more than 400 documented witness testimonies, there is no longer any doubt regarding the crimes committed by Hamas. She stated that the brutality documented in the report, “Silenced No More” reveals the true nature of an ideology that treats sexual violence as a legitimate means of terror, emphasizing that the international legal and human rights community must act with corresponding urgency.
Castelucci reinforced his point about the deep emotional and psychological wounds inflicted upon the survivors and Israeli public. He added that the German government’s embassy in Tel Aviv supports various projects aimed at helping survivors cope with their trauma, including the work of the Civil Commission that produced the report. Ultimately, the German government believes that the needs and concerns of the survivors must remain the central focus.
