The events of October 7, 2023, left an indelible scar, with Hamas weaponizing sexual violence against women, men, and children, and later against hostages in Gaza. This brutality, often accompanied by mutilation and murder, is meticulously documented through thousands of records, Hamas’s own videos, firsthand testimonies, and the heartbreaking accounts of those who collected fragments of bodies. Having witnessed the horror firsthand in the kibbutzim immediately after the massacre, the evidence was undeniable. Yet, in a shocking display of moral bankruptcy, the United Nations has chosen to blacklist Israel alongside Hamas and ISIS, accusing the Jewish state of committing sexual violence in conflict. This accusation not only ignores the severe penalties for sexual violence under Israeli military and civilian law, but also disregards the recent scandal involving five reservists at Sde Teiman, where allegations of abuse were thoroughly investigated. Sexual violence, a profound form of dehumanization, attacks the very core of a person’s identity and dignity. The UN’s accusation against Israel is a moral criminalization, aligning the international body with anti-Western forces seeking Israel’s destruction.
The integrity of the UN has been further eroded by its so-called special rapporteurs. Francesca Albanese, a vocal critic of Israel, and Reem Alsalem, who dismissed evidence of mass sexual atrocities in Israel, exemplify this bias. Michael Fakhri, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, accused Israel of causing famine in Gaza while ignoring the daily aid trucks and Hamas’s seizure of supplies, as well as the starvation of Israeli hostages. Similarly, Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN Special Rapporteur on Health, has shockingly argued that Hamas is not a terrorist organization and that armed struggle is not a crime. This narrative was amplified by a New York Times article by Nicholas Kristof, based on testimony from a member of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, an organization with strong ties to Hamas. The article resurrected unsubstantiated accusations of sexual abuse against Palestinian prisoners, including sensational claims involving attack dogs. This appalling false equivalence mirrors the International Criminal Court’s decision to categorize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with Yahya Sinwar, effectively portraying Israel as Hamas, or even worse, as Nazis. This monstrous lie, perpetuated by the United Nations, poisons the world with its malicious intent.