Condemning Rape and Sexual Violence Committed By Hamas in its War Against Israel

Floor Speech

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Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Manning for yielding me time and for her leadership. I thank Representative Frankel for her phenomenal leadership on this issue and so many other issues.

I rise today to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting a bipartisan resolution which forcefully condemns Hamas' use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war on and since October 7.

On October 7, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and committed horrific and repulsive acts of violence, murder, and torture, including sexual assault, rape, and genital mutilation on babies, children, women, men, and the elderly, including Americans.

These deliberate and targeted acts on civilians have been verified through the testimony of first responders, eyewitness accounts, CCTV, pictures, and forensic evidence. If that wasn't enough, Hamas terrorists even recorded their acts using cameras and the phones of their victims, and cheered and celebrated as they did it. Then, these terrorists proceeded to post these videos online and send them to the families of their victims, who they mutilated and murdered.

These terrorists didn't even try to cover up their heinous acts because they wanted the world to know what they did. They wanted the world to know what they think is an acceptable way to treat Jewish people. Since then, they have promised more waves of violence and second, third, and fourth October 7s. Who would do this?

As a Member of Congress, the House Intelligence Committee, and someone who has traveled to Israel since October 7, I have seen these gut-wrenching videos and heard the testimony of survivors of the horrific acts of sexual violence and torture. These stories and images will stay with me forever. I will never forget seeing them.

That is why I continue to wear this dog tag around my neck. It symbolizes the hostages who are still being abused and held by Hamas terrorists, including the Americans still kidnapped and all of those who were victims on October 7 and experienced the most gruesome acts imaginable.

Sexual violence, assault, and rape have no place in our world, and I am shocked by those who continue to deny that these acts were used by Hamas as weapons of war against innocent civilians on October 7.

There are those who equivocate about Hamas and the terrors they have committed. There should be no equivocation. Any equivocation is despicable. Hamas is designated by the United States of America as a foreign terrorist organization. They are terrorists, period. There is no argument to be had.

In the past, the biased United Nations and its affiliated organizations have been quick to condemn acts of brutality, sexual violence, and rape around the globe. However, the response from UN Women, whose job is to defend and promote women's rights anywhere and everywhere, was egregiously late. I cannot fathom why an organization that exists for the sole purpose of advancing women's rights would hesitate, even a single second, to condemn the use of rape as a weapon of terror. There is no excuse.

There are those today who try to deny what Hamas did on October 7. We see people constantly pumping misinformation on social media, including TikTok, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Government, to further spew anti-Semitic, anti-Israel rhetoric and even denial of acts of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas terrorists. Sexual violence is a recognized war crime that must always be condemned.

The silence and lies from those who continue to deny acts of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas terrorists and those who vote against this resolution is unacceptable. To deny the events of October 7 is an insult to the many victims of extreme sexual violence in Israel that day and to those who remain hostage today, including Americans we must bring home.

Mr. Speaker, today, my colleagues have a chance to recognize the horrific sexual violence from Hamas terrorists on innocent civilians 131 days ago. I urge them all to vote for and help pass this bipartisan resolution.

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