From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 7, 2023
US officials meet with head of Israeli civil commission on Oct. 7 sexual violence
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
A group of Biden administration officials met yesterday with the head of Israel’s Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children, the White House says.
During the meeting, commission head Cochav Elyakam-Levy “spoke about her work to gather testimony and document evidence of the events of October 7 and develop a comprehensive accounting of gender-based violence committed by Hamas,” reads a White House readout.
“The group discussed the imperative to unequivocally denounce sexual violence by Hamas, and the need for broad commitment across the international community to hold perpetrators accountable and support survivors,” it continues.
US presidential adviser Jennifer Klein reiterated US President Joe Biden’s “commitment to exercising all financial, diplomatic and legal tools to address sexual violence in conflict, and the ongoing efforts by the Administration to secure the release of the women and girls that continue to be held as hostages by Hamas.”
Meanwhile, US Vice President Kamala Harris joins Biden in condemning the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on October 7.
“We’ve seen horrific reports of sexual assault by Hamas on October 7th. It is reprehensible and must be condemned,” she tweets.
“Rape can never be used as a weapon of war. I’ve spent my career protecting women and girls from heinous crimes of sexual violence and will continue to do so.”
