Sheila Katz, CEO of NCJW, Speaks at Congressional Roundtable Highlighting the Sexual and Gender-based violence perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on October 7

In a Congressional roundtable convened by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, along with Reps. Susan Wild, Lois Frankel, and Kathy Manning, the issue of sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated against many of the hostages held in Hamas captivity was discussed. Also in attendance were Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff; Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog; Adv. Shirin Herzog, LL.M; Rep. Gwen Moore; Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt; Activist Noa Tishby, and Meredith Jacob’s and Rhoda Smolow from Jewish Women International and Hadassah. Here are some of Sheila Katz’s remarks: “It is our responsibility to call out rape whenever it happens” “Rape is a violation against humanity” “Either rape is always unacceptable or it isn’t” “Either all women are believed or they aren’t” “Either we condemn rape as a weapon of war or we normalize it” Following the roundtable, in a nearly unanimous vote, 418 members of Congress voted to condemn Hamas’ acts of sexual violence as a tool of war in a bill introduced by Frankel, moderated by Manning and endorsed by National Council of Jewish Women. NCJW will continue to call out sexual violence wherever it happens.