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.