What’s happening

Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Facebook and founder of Lean In, has voiced a powerful condemnation of sexual violence committed against Jewish women by Hamas. Speaking at a United Nations event, Sandberg called on the world to unite against rape and sexual violence, and criticized the silence of women’s organizations on this matter.

Why it matters

This issue strikes at the heart of human rights and the global fight against gender-based violence. Sandberg’s advocacy brings to light the atrocities committed and the need for a collective voice against such acts, regardless of political affiliations. It also challenges international organizations and women’s groups to uphold their commitment to fighting violence against women.

Details of the event

At an event hosted by Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, Sandberg was joined by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and featured a video address by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Israeli police officers shared harrowing accounts of the aftermath of a massacre on October 7, describing brutal acts of sexual violence against women.

The bigger picture

The call for condemnation extends beyond this single event, touching on the larger issue of antisemitism and the need to combat all forms of hatred and discrimination, including Islamophobia and racism. Sandberg’s personal reflection on her Jewish heritage underscores the importance of addressing and preventing intergenerational trauma caused by such violence.

Reaction from officials

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, expressed dismay at the lack of response from UN women’s organizations and vowed to be a voice for the victims. Sandberg’s remarks were supported by Senator Gillibrand, who expressed her own outrage at the silence from women’s groups.

The takeaway

Sandberg’s advocacy at the UN event is a call to action for the international community to stand united against sexual violence and to break the silence surrounding these human rights violations. It is a reminder that in the face of such atrocities, political differences should be set aside in favour of upholding our shared humanity.

This story was first published on foxnews.com.