The hypocrisy and antisemitism of leftists who claim to be feminists were on ugly display this week when Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., was asked about rapes, torture and murders of women and girls committed by Palestinian terrorists who invaded Israel on Oct. 7.
In an effort to downplay the appalling crimes by Hamas and allied terrorists reminiscent of Nazi atrocities during the Holocaust, Jayapal told CNN: “Sexual assault is horrific. I think that it happens in war situations. … However, I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians” committed by Israel.
“We have to be balanced?” This sounds like Jayapal, who heads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, wants to somehow justify the unjustifiable genocidal sexual violence that terrorists inflicted on Israel two months ago. This attempt at moral relativism and her quip about rape, that “it happens,” is akin to Rep. Ilham Omar’s repugnant remark that “some people did something” to describe the obscene devastation of the September 11th attacks. The only way to describe these remarks and attitudes is as illustrations of a grotesque and monstrous moral void.
The bloodthirsty savages who attacked Israel murdered over 1,200 mostly unarmed people — ranging in age from babies to the elderly — and abducted about 240 to Gaza, where about 137 are believed still held. Americans and other foreigners were among the victims.
Conservative women’s groups — including the Feminists for Life and Concerned Women for America — quickly condemned Hamas for its rape and murder spree. But the prominent liberal women’s groups have been disgracefully silent, or months late with shallow comments meant as gestures. Over 20 didn’t respond when Fox News asked for their views on Hamas war crimes.
The National Organization for Women issued a statement on November 30th, almost a full 8 weeks after the October 7th massacre, headlined “NOW condemns the use of rape as a weapon of war.” That’s brave. And, of course, the statement didn’t contain the words “Israel,” “Hamas,” or “Jews.” Responding in this manner means they have never made a statement about Hamas’ October 7th crime against humanity, and instead released a word salad template that could have been released at any time for any reason about a supposed general principle. It’s almost as though they didn’t want to condemn what’s happening at all.
This illustrates something important about left-wing feminism: it’s never really been feminism at all, which would be dedicated to advancing the welfare, rights and freedoms for all women. Instead, it’s been global leftists exploiting social and civil rights issues here and around the world for power and money, as they divide and weaken Western society even more.
Being female is a matter of biology, not ideology, nationality, religion or economic status. Yet many leftists absurdly refuse to acknowledge conservatives and members of the “oppressor class” (including Jews) as authentic women. For example, leftist feminist icon Gloria Steinem has been known to dismiss the actual femaleness of women who refuse to conform to liberal orthodoxy
The United Nations — dominated by countries hostile to Israel — is no better than Jayapal and leftist feminists in failing to condemn Hamas for its war crimes.
It wasn’t until November 24 that U.N. Women — an organization created to “uphold women’s human rights” — posted on X: “We remain alarmed by gender-based violence reports on Oct. 7 & call for rigorous investigation, prioritizing the rights, needs & safety of those affected.”
But no investigation is needed. Terrorists proudly recorded videos of their barbaric rampage, including sadistic gang rapes and cutting off body parts of their victims before murdering them. These videos, along with statements of eyewitnesses and captured terrorists, prove that Hamas is guilty of the deadliest single-day attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
On Monday, December 4th, the start of the week leading into Hanukkah, hundreds of women protested in New York against the U.N.’s failure to condemn Hamas. Some wore bodysuits painted red around their groins and breasts and their mouths were taped shut. Others chanted: “Me too, unless you are a Jew” and “rape has no context.” Rabbi Joanna Samuels called the U.N. “an institution that has lost its moral compass” and “failed all women.”
Israel hosted an event at the U.N. on the same day featuring Sheryl Sandberg (the former chief operating officer of Facebook and founder of the group Lean In), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and other women calling on the international organization and women’s groups to condemn Hamas. Even Hillary Clinton — who famously attacked women victimized by the sexual misconduct of her husband, then-President Bill Clinton — sent in a videotaped statement showing solidarity with Israeli women.
Like Dr. Frankenstein being shocked at the nature of his creation, perhaps these older, wealthy, and powerful leftist women may be shocked into finally grasping that their movement was in fact a monster. “You need to be able to say that rape is unacceptable and sexual violence is unacceptable,” Sandberg told Fox News. “If we don’t stand up against this, we lose our humanity.” Someone should tell Sandberg many of us have been warning for decades that the left was strangling the humanity out of us.
Many on the left, including feminists who complain about every supposed sexist microaggression, have foolishly embraced the butchers of Hamas as “freedom fighters.”
But Hamas is a dictatorial Islamist tyranny that severely limits freedom for the Palestinians it rules in Gaza. Life there was a nightmare for Palestinians — especially women — long before the current war with Israel began. Like the Taliban, Hamas grants few rights to women, restricts the jobs they can hold and the clothing they can wear, and largely bars them from senior positions in government.
The Hamas charter says the primary role of women is to “manufacture men and play a great role in guiding and educating” children. Not exactly the position of American progressives. Manufacturing men… At least someone is trying to talk some sense into the “Lesbians for Palestine” crowd!
Most of us have heard the slogan “Sisterhood is powerful.” Unfortunately, antisemitism is also powerful and a force for evil that has resulted in thousands of years of persecution of Jews. Leftists who embrace this vile hatred are neither true feminists nor progressives. They are bigots.
Failing to condemn rape, torture and murder of women — no matter who they are— is immoral, indecent and intolerable. It is disgusting and yet revealing that some of the left won’t acknowledge this fact.