“I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent.” Rav Kook z"l
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Ilana Gritzewsky held hostage by Hamas, took the floor at the UN to confront Reem Alsalem, the UN rapporteur on violence against women.
Ilana Gritzewsky, who was held hostage by Hamas, just took the floor at the United Nations to confront Reem Alsalem, the UN rapporteur on violence against women.
Alsalem, an Arab, was criticised in 2023 by Claire Waxman, London's Victims' Commissioner, as she didn’t speak out on reports of sexual & gender-based violence in the 7 Oct mayhem against Israeli women during & following the Hamas attack. In response, Alsalem claimed she condemned "what happened on 7 Oct", contacted NGOs in Israel without reply & claimed she can’t make "sweeping statements" without receiving “evidence”. Apparently Hamas live-streaming the atrocities & confirmation by Western Intelligence services doesn’t meet her burden of proof. She later falsely claimed in 2025 that "No independent investigation found that rape took place on 7 Oct" despite a UN report on Hamas use of sexual violence that day.
In 2024, Alsalem said "grave violations of international human rights & humanitarian law" are committed in Gaza by Israeli troops. In a formal statement alongside the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, she described "credible" reports of "multiple forms of sexual assault", ie rape & strip-searches of Palestinian women & girls. Israel denied it.
In Aug 2025, in an interview with The New Arab, Alsalem accused Israel of targeting Palestinian women & girls in Gaza, stating, "What’s happening to Palestinian women & girls is intentional destruction of their existence & bodies, for being Palestinian & for being women." She also called what’s happening in Gaza a "femi-genocide".
Alsalem, an Arab, was criticised in 2023 by Claire Waxman, London's Victims' Commissioner, as she didn’t speak out on reports of sexual & gender-based violence in the 7 Oct mayhem against Israeli women during & following the Hamas attack. In response, Alsalem claimed she condemned "what happened on 7 Oct", contacted NGOs in Israel without reply & claimed she can’t make "sweeping statements" without receiving “evidence”. Apparently Hamas live-streaming the atrocities & confirmation by Western Intelligence services doesn’t meet her burden of proof. She later falsely claimed in 2025 that "No independent investigation found that rape took place on 7 Oct" despite a UN report on Hamas use of sexual violence that day.
ReplyDeleteIn 2024, Alsalem said "grave violations of international human rights & humanitarian law" are committed in Gaza by Israeli troops. In a formal statement alongside the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, she described "credible" reports of "multiple forms of sexual assault", ie rape & strip-searches of Palestinian women & girls. Israel denied it.
In Aug 2025, in an interview with The New Arab, Alsalem accused Israel of targeting Palestinian women & girls in Gaza, stating, "What’s happening to Palestinian women & girls is intentional destruction of their existence & bodies, for being Palestinian & for being women." She also called what’s happening in Gaza a "femi-genocide".