I Believe Israeli Women is a global movement standing in solidarity with Israeli women and fighting the denial of and disinformation about the sexual violence of October 7.
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Central to our work is never letting what happened on and after Oct. 7 to men, women and children be forgotten or erased.
Below, you'll find several reported accounts of the brutality of the attacks of Oct. 7 and the harrowing conditions that hostages faced in captivity.
A former Israeli hostage recalls the brutality of Hamas captivity
The Washington Post, June 1, 2024
Israeli Hostage Says She Was Sexually Assaulted and Tortured in Gaza
The New York Times, March 26, 2024
Uncovering Hamas’ Sexual War Crimes
Israel: State of a Nation with Eylon Levy, March 6, 2024
Interview with Ayelet Razin Bet Or, I Believe Israeli Women member
On Sexual violence and… silence
Call Me Back podcast with Dan Senor, Feb. 12, 2024
Interview with Shari Mendes, volunteer at Shura base
‘Screams Without Words’: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7
The New York Times, Dec. 28, 2023
New signs emerge of ‘widespread’ sexual crimes by Hamas
Associated Press, Dec. 6, 2023
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Survivors of Oct. 7 face a world that refuses to believe them. The sexual violence committed by Hamas and other terrorists groups on and after Oct. 7 is constantly denied and diminished by bad actors.
Read more about the issue:
Tragedy of Nova festival survivor Shirel Golan shows the harm of online hateOp-ed in the New York Post by JWI CEO Meredith Jacobs
Op-ed in the Forward by JWI Senior Director Laura E. Adkins on March 29, 2024
Antisemitism Trend Alert: Denial of the October 7 Massacre on Social Media Platforms
Cyberwell Report, January 2024
The women’s movement has a double standard when sexual violence happens to Jews
the Forward, Nov. 27, 2023
by Meredith Jacobs
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Conflict-related sexual violence is unfortunately a frequent war tactic designed to humiliate and terrorize the local population, inflicting long-term trauma. As the leading Jewish organization fighting for women and girls everywhere, JWI is committed to fighting extremism and sexual violence globally, and ensuring Israeli women are a part of the global CRSV conversation.
Gender-Based Violence Against Israeli Hostages in Gaza
JWI CEO Meredith Jacobs spoke at an event on Feb. 14, 2024 to raise awareness of the sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated against women and children held hostage by Hamas since Oct. 7.
(Intro to Meredith’s speech begins at 1:17:00)
Women, Peace and Security Policy Responses to Confict-Related Sexual Violence Globally
JWI Senior Director Laura E. Adkins spoke at a Hill briefing on responses global to CRSV on Feb. 23, 2024, placing what happened to Israelis on Oct. 7 into an international context.
“Hamas Is Responsible for Rape in Israel—and in Gaza”
Newsweek, July 18, 2024
by Ayelet Razin Bet Or, I Believe Israeli Women partner
"Do Pro-Palestinian Protesters Know What They're Fighting For?"
Newsweek, August 27, 2024by Sonia Ossorio, I Believe Israeli Women member
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Central to our work is ensuring Israelis know that we stand with and believe them.
Philadelphia Inquirer, April 17, 2024
by Jennifer Stefano, I Believe Israeli Women delegate
Seed the Dream and Jewish Women International looks to build coalition that ‘believes Israeli women’
eJewishPhilanthropy, June 7, 2024
CNN, Dec. 11, 2023
by Alexi Ashe Meyers, I Believe Israeli Women delegate
Join the movement:
It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. When you join the I Believe Israeli Women movement, you’ll gain access to exclusive events, webinars, working groups and more:
How we make a difference
Community Ambassadors
IBIW Ambassadors bring events and advocacy initiatives to their local communities and campuses.
Legal and Policy Working Group
Members of this working group provide expert analysis and create actionable steps to fight Oct. 7 disinformation.
Communications Working Group
Members of this working group create campaigns to share stories of survivors and combat efforts to distort and deny the facts about what happened on Oct. 7.
Past Events
Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War
September 6, 2024 — New York City
Treating Survivors with Sensitivity: How to host thoughtful events about the sexual violence of 10/7
September 9, 2024 — Online
View a ritual guide for Oct. 7 commemorations
Watch “Screams Before Silence”
Events about October 7 can be difficult to be part of and triggering for participants. Please consider having a mental health counselor at your community wide event for people who are feeling overwhelmed.
NYC
September 16, 2024
Women Uniting Against Extremism: An Interfaith Panel Discussion
Philadelphia
September 25, 2024
A special screening of “Screams Before Silence”
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Follow I Believe Israeli Women on social media:
Resources for 10/7 Events
A sample service of closing rituals created by JWI’s Clergy Taskforce
Created by Rabbi Donna Kirshbaum and Rabbi Michael Hess Webber
A guide to prepare for listening to survivors of trauma recount what happened to them
Adapted by IBIW from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
We cannot allow the systematic sexual violence of October 7 to be forgotten or denied.
“Good people can disagree on the pathway to peace. Good people can disagree on many aspects of the conflict. But good people must use their voices to denounce certain unacceptable acts, and one of them is the use of mass rape as a weapon of war.”
Partner Organizations:
I Believe Israeli Women is a global movement. We are proud to have partners on three continents and in dozens of cities.
Apply to partner with I Believe Israeli Women
Jewish Women International has always stood with our sisters in Israel. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, the urgency of this work has become clear.
I Believe Israeli Women, the movement JWI co-founded with Seed the Dream Foundation, has been at the forefront of leading the call for accountability for survivors and those who were killed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on October 7.