Ernst Condemns UN Inaction on Hamas’s Sexual Violence Against Israeli Women
Calls for investigation into Hamas’s use of rape as a “weapon of war.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) led their colleagues in condemning the inaction of the United Nations (UN) regarding Hamas’s widespread sexual violence against Israeli women and called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to open an independent investigation into these acts.
In the letter, the lawmakers demanded the UN hold its primary entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, UN Women, accountable for its failure to immediately and unequivocally condemn Hamas’s atrocities against women.
“We write to express our profound disappointment with the United Nations’ (UN) response to Hamas’s widespread sexual violence, including rape and mutilation, as a weapon of war against women in Israel on October 7, 2023,” wrote the lawmakers. “A growing body of evidence including the testimonies of survivors, witnesses, and first responders makes clear that as part of Hamas’s terrorist attack that killed 1,200 men, women, and children on October 7, the terrorist organization intentionally used rape and sexual assault as weapons of war.”
“Sexual violence, particularly on this scale and of this level of brutality, must be condemned unequivocally and without qualification, which is why we were shocked that it took UN Women nearly two months to speak out against these atrocities,” the senators continued. “We urge you to move swiftly to seek the establishment of an independent fact-finding effort through a separate mechanism, tasked with collecting testimonies from survivors and witnesses of Hamas’s sexual violence. An independent investigation is a necessary step to hold perpetrators accountable, support survivors, and provide justice for victims.”
Read the full letter here.
Background:
In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, Ernst has been steadfast in her support of Israel. Immediately following the attacks, she met with Israeli leaders – including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – and American citizens in Israel. Upon her return to the US, she continued to express solidarity with the Israeli people both on the Senate floor and at the March for Israel on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Ernst has worked to hold Iran and their terrorist proxies, including Hamas, accountable by leading a bipartisan call demanding Biden freeze Iranian assets and enforce sanctions against Iran to prevent them from fueling and funding terrorist proxies. She has also worked to redesignate both Iran-backed Houthis and Hamas as terrorist organizations.
She has led the charge against antisemitism, including on college campuses and K-12 schools.
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