The Quest to Hold Hamas Accountable for Sexual Violence

Common points of discussion about the war in the Middle East, almost two years after Hamas invaded Israel, are the humanitarian aid situation, Israel’s impressive effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, and seemingly never-ending cease-fire talks. Survivors and victims of October 7, though, are still healing — and more and more, as time passes, their stories have gone untold.

Which is why the Dinah Project compiled a comprehensive account of one of the most horrendous aspects of Hamas’s attack: the terror organization’s pervasive and strategic use of sexual violence. As early as October 8, when Hamas posted videos of the carnage on social media, it was easy to see that terrorists had brutalized and assaulted women. There was the video of Naama Levy, who was dragged by her hair into a Jeep, with blood stains on the crotch area of her pants. There was the video of Shani Louk splayed out nude in the back of a truck bed as terrorists prodded at her with their feet and guns. There was testimony from forensic analysts who processed bodies.

About the Author

Haley Strack

Haley Strack is a former staff writer at National Review.

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Common points of discussion about the war in the Middle East, almost two years after Hamas invaded Israel, are the humanitarian aid situation, Israel’s impressive effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, and seemingly never-ending cease-fire talks. Survivors and victims of October 7, though, are still healing — and more and more, as time passes, their stories have gone untold.

Which is why the Dinah Project compiled a comprehensive account of one of the most horrendous aspects of Hamas’s attack: the terror organization’s pervasive and strategic use of sexual violence. As early as October 8, when Hamas posted videos of the carnage on social media, it was easy to see that terrorists had brutalized and assaulted women. There was the video of Naama Levy, who was dragged by her hair into a Jeep, with blood stains on the crotch area of her pants. There was the video of Shani Louk splayed out nude in the back of a truck bed as terrorists prodded at her with their feet and guns. There was testimony from forensic analysts who processed bodies.