President Joe Biden spoke out against the disturbing sexual assaults committed by Hamas terrorists during their assault on the Gaza Strip on October 7. The President, addressing attendees at a fundraising event in Boston, deemed the acts as “appalling” and called for a collective condemnation of the violence.
Expressing deep concern for the survivors and witnesses who recounted their horrifying experiences, President Biden stated, “Reports of women raped — repeatedly raped — and their bodies being mutilated while still alive — of women corpses being desecrated, Hamas terrorists inflicting as much pain and suffering on women and girls as possible and then murdering them. It is appalling.”
Emphasizing the global responsibility to respond, President Biden stressed that turning a blind eye to such atrocities is not an option. He urged individuals worldwide to unequivocally denounce the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas terrorists.
The President also accused Hamas of obstructing the release of female hostages, a move that contributed to the recent termination of the temporary ceasefire.
This condemnation by President Biden comes on the heels of a controversy involving Representative Pramila Jayapal. The congresswoman faced scrutiny after a tense exchange with CNN’s Dana Bash regarding the response to sexual violence against women in the West Bank.
While acknowledging the severity of rape, Jayapal highlighted the necessity of addressing the broader context of the conflict and the suffering endured by both Israelis and Palestinians.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre labeled Hamas’ actions as “reprehensible” and condemned the rape of Israeli women. However, she refrained from addressing Jayapal’s comments directly, noting that she could only speak on behalf of the president.
Following the controversy, Representative Jayapal clarified her stance in a released statement, condemning Hamas’ actions and expressing her commitment to recognizing the pain and trauma experienced by Israelis, Palestinians, and their diaspora communities affected by the ongoing conflict.
*”My comment about balance was not about rape, and not intended to minimize rape and sexual assault in any way,”* Jayapal stated. *”It was about recognizing the tremendous pain and trauma of so many—Israelis, Palestinians, and their diaspora communities—in this terrible war.”*
