Human Rights Expert: Allies Across US and Europe Demonstrate Israel is Not Alone

Human Rights Expert: Allies Across US and Europe Demonstrate Israel is Not Alone

Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy and actress Moran Atias addressed an Israel Bonds Women’s Division Webinar to shed light on the devastating sexual violence experienced on Oct. 7.

Edited by: TJVNews.com

The United Nations might be in need of an overhaul, but Israel still has many allies in the West, Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, Chair of the Civil Commission on Oct. 7th Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children, told a webinar hosted by Israel Bonds/Development Corporation for Israel titled, “Shattering the Silence.”

The Dec. 12 virtual event, initiated to raise awareness around how Hamas terrorists murdered, sexually assaulted, and violated women during the Oct. 7 attacks, featured Dr. Elkayam-Levy and renowned Israeli actress and women’s rights activist Moran Atias. The webinar opened with remarks by Israel Bonds’ Women’s Division Chair Cathy Distelburger, while Bonds’ Board Member Shira Lewis engaged in conversation with Atias.

“Maybe the U.N. needs to go through a radical transformation, but I am meeting allies in the United States and Europe that make sure we know we’re not alone and they’ll work with us to reveal all the atrocities that happened on Oct. 7,” she said, in a message of hope after explaining how much of the international community kept silent in the aftermath of that horrific day, especially when it came to condemning the sexual violence Israeli women and children experienced.

“Seeing this lack of response broke me,” said Elkayam-Levy, who has built her career as a staunch advocate for international law and human rights. Her research — which is published in top U.S. legal journals — centers on women’s international human rights, national security issues, domestic implementation of international human rights law, religious liberties, transformative social changes, feminist theories, and sustainable development.

“As the days and weeks went by, the silence became something else,” Dr. Elkayam-Levy said. “When they kept silent, they didn’t only betray us as Israeli women, but they betrayed humanity, universal standards and everything we’ve worked for…we expected our colleagues at the UN to at least initially report what happened as this is what usually happens – they typically condemn the crimes and express solidarity with the country impacted. The U.N. has the mandate to do so. We were shocked and deeply surprised that they didn’t do their basic responsibility. It was as if Oct. 7 disappeared from time itself.”

Following her remarks, Atias, best known for her roles in Tyrant (2014), Third Person (2013), The Next Three Days (2010), and Mother of Tears (2007), and who also serves as the founder of women’s rights NGO Me First and volunteers with the official forum representing the Israeli hostages, said that speaking out is “more than a mitzvah. It’s our duty. It’s our legacy. I have this necessity and commitment to speak even louder and clearer. These confusing statements from the international community need to be called out.”

Israel Bonds President & CEO, Dani Naveh, said, “On Oct. 7 the world witnessed the most vicious and brutal violence against the Jewish community since the Holocaust. They [Hamas] beheaded babies, burned children alive in front of their parents, tortured children and raped and murdered women. Terrible crimes against women were committed and the world kept silent until the mission of our guest speakers put those terrible crimes against women on the international agenda and revealed the hypocrisy of women’s rights organizations who kept silent.”

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