US envoy: Don’t conflate Israeli abuse of detainees and Oct. 7 sexual violence

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield says the UN report now being discussed by the Security Council “confirms what we have known for months: On October 7th, Hamas carried out horrific acts of conflict-related sexual violence, including rape and gang rape.”

“And yet, so many people around the world — including members of this very council — have been silent in the face of these atrocities,” Thomas-Greenfield states. “Worse — some openly viewed these atrocities with suspicion and skepticism. It is unforgivable, and it is a gross affront to all survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.”

While just about all members have individually condemned the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas-led terrorists, some members have blocked the Security Council from issuing a joint statement condemning the phenomenon. The US envoy urges the body to take this step.

Thomas-Greenfield also quotes the report’s findings regarding “‘the detention of Palestinian men and women has been compounded by alleged instances of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including increased instances of various forms of sexual violence.'”

“All parties to this conflict must uphold their obligations under international law with regard to the treatment of detained individuals, and we urge and expect Israel to end these abuses,” the US envoy adds.

However, she cautions members against “drawing a false equivalency between these actions and hostage-taking by a foreign terrorist organization. These two things are not the same.”

Thomas-Greenfield calls for the implementation of a six-week ceasefire currently on the table, adding that Israel has accepted the framework and that it is up to Hamas to do the same.