The Dinah Project

Background and Speaker Introduction

• Ayelet: Mother of four, resident of Kibbutz Maaleh 5, criminal lawyer, former prosecutor, legal advisor to Israeli rape crisis centers, and former director of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women.
• Professional Experience: Extensive work in legal advocacy, legislation, and government policy related to sexual and domestic violence.
• Context on October 7: While in Spain at the time of the attack, Ayelet quickly began gathering evidence of sexual violence as reports emerged.

Nature and Evidence of Gender-Based Violence

• Scale of Atrocities:
  
  • Over 12,000 killed, 73% of whom were civilians, including women, children, and babies.
  • 251 hostages taken; 50 still in captivity at the time of the talk.
• Patterns of Violence:
  
  • Testimonies and footage indicate systematic, premeditated sexual violence by Hamas and affiliated groups—these were not isolated acts.
• Types of Evidence:
  
  • Survivor and eyewitness testimonies (some unpublished).
  • Accounts from released hostages, first responders, and medical/mental health professionals.
  • Forensic limitations due to war conditions and rapid burial.
  • Video and photographic evidence from GoPros, surveillance footage, and recovered devices.
• Specific Cases:
  
  • Amit Bhasana: Repeated sexual assault in captivity.
  • Ilana Ritsersky: Subjected to sexual assault and threats of forced marriage.
  • Male Hostages: Reports of humiliation, forced nudity, and genital shaving.
  • Eyewitness accounts of public sexual assaults, mutilations, and killings.
• Cultural and Religious Framing:
  
  • Perpetrators justified violence through certain interpretations of Islamic law, viewing women as war spoils.

Documentation and International Recognition

• Dinah Project: Co-founded by Ayelet to document and advocate for global recognition of the sexual violence committed on October 7.
• International Reports and Responses:
  
  • UN Special Representative Pramila Patten confirmed a pattern of conflict-related sexual violence and risk to hostages.
  • British Parliamentary Commission and UN Commission of Inquiry acknowledged widespread, systematic sexual violence.
  • International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Hamas leaders include charges of sexual violence. No such charges have been filed against Israeli leaders.
• Challenges in Sharing Evidence:
  
  • Ethical and legal dilemmas regarding the release of graphic footage.
  • Tension between honoring victim dignity and informing global audiences.
  • Many survivors have not come forward due to trauma and societal barriers.

Societal and Global Reactions

• Israeli Response:
  
  • Deep trauma among survivors, first responders, and the broader public.
  • Sense of betrayal by global feminist and human rights organizations.
• Global Feminist Solidarity:
  
  • Disappointment in the lack of response from most international women’s rights groups.
  • Notable exceptions include public acknowledgment from Hillary Clinton.
• UN and NGO Criticism:
  
  • Accusations of silence or bias from groups such as UNICEF and UN Women.
• Media and Public Awareness:
  
  • Ongoing debate over releasing graphic evidence to shift international perception.
  • Concerns about retraumatization and the legal/moral implications.

Advocacy, Challenges, and Calls to Action

• Strategies:
  
  • Presenting evidence to lawmakers and policymakers.
  • Advocating for formal recognition of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
  • Mobilizing diplomatic and legislative action.
• Obstacles:
  
  • Political reluctance, denial, and challenges in international legal frameworks.
• Future Directions:
  
  • Continued documentation and testimony.
  • Strengthening leverage over international bodies to advocate for hostage release and recognition of atrocities.
  • Broader inclusion of Jewish and Israeli voices in global DEI and feminist movements.

Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Belief in the transformative power of evidence-based advocacy and global solidarity, despite current silences and setbacks.

Existential Impact: The events of October 7 shattered personal, professional, and feminist identities for many Israeli women.

Ongoing Trauma: Both survivors and the families of the deceased are navigating long-term psychological wounds.

Moral Imperative: There is a pressing need to confront and condemn sexual violence in conflict, independent of political alignment on the Israeli–Palestinian issue.

Hope for Change: Belief in the transformative power of evidence-based advocacy and global solidarity, despite current silences and setbacks.