What’s happening
UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, initially issued a statement condemning Hamas for an attack in Israel that resulted in significant casualties and allegations of sexual violence. However, the organization subsequently deleted the post, causing controversy and claims of a double standard regarding violence against Israeli women.
Why it matters
The deletion of the post has sparked outrage among Jewish women activists and Israeli citizens, who argue that this act reflects a persistent bias within international organizations against Israel. The criticism is further amplified by the use of the hashtag “#MeToo_UNless_UR_A_Jew,” highlighting perceived inconsistencies in the advocacy against gender-based violence.
The Details
UN Women had condemned the brutal Hamas attacks on October 7, which left over 1,200 dead, but replaced their original statement with one that omitted the condemnation and focused solely on the release of hostages. This change followed the release of some hostages during a temporary truce, which UN Women claimed shifted their priorities.
Response from UN Women
UN Women explained that the initial post was part of a scheduled social media campaign and was removed because it no longer aligned with the organization’s focus after the hostage release. They emphasized that mistakes can occur when managing multiple campaigns and that they will continue to condemn the attacks and call for the release of hostages until the conflict is resolved.
International and Local Reactions
The UN General Assembly called for a ceasefire but did not condemn the Hamas attacks. Meanwhile, Israel’s Knesset discussed the atrocities committed against women during the attack. UN Women’s subsequent statements have centered on the impact on Palestinian women, with no further mention of Israeli victims, leading to criticism from groups like the National Council for Jewish Women for their inadequate response.
Bottom Line
The incident has raised questions about UN Women’s stance on violence against Israeli women and their commitment to addressing gender-based violence without prejudice. The organization’s actions are under scrutiny as the international community and local groups demand a more balanced and immediate acknowledgment of such atrocities.
This story was first published on jpost.com.