United States: US President Joe Biden expressed dismay against the sexual assaults committed by the militant group Hamas since the conflict between the group and Israel began on October 7. Biden also asked everyone to come forward and condemn the acts of the fighters.
According to the reports published by CNN Politics, the President recently participated in a fundraiser event in Boston, during which he said, “Over the past few weeks, survivors and witnesses of the attacks have shared the horrific accounts of unimaginable cruelty.”
Biden further added, “Reports of women raped — repeatedly raped — and their bodies being mutilated while still alive — of women corpses being desecrated, Hamas terrorists inflicting as much pain and suffering on women and girls as possible and then murdering them. It is appalling.”
In addition to this, Biden expressed that it is time to come together and fight against the cruelty of militants. He said, “The world can’t just look away at what’s going on. It’s on all of us … to forcibly condemn the sexual violence of Hamas terrorists without equivocation.”
The comment has been made by President Joe Biden after Democrat Pramila Jayapal faced harsh criticism for not commenting against the acts of Hamas. Various sources underscored the act as a divide in the party due to ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Jayapal’s comment
On Tuesday, Jayapal, who serves in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, shared a statement in which she commented on the sexual assault by the militant group upon the women. The statement read that she “unequivocally condemns Hamas’ use of rape and sexual violence as an act of war.”
As per the reports by CNN, the statement was made public following her comment on CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday.
On “State of the Union,” she strictly criticized the acts of the Hamas fighters and termed the sexual assault against Israeli women as “horrific.” However, she further mentioned that the attack by Israel has led to the killing of more than 15,000 Palestinians, out of which a maximum are civilians.
“I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians,” she was quoted saying by CNN. She further clarified that by comment, she meant “about balance was not about rape, and not intended to minimize rape and sexual assault in any way.”
Furthermore, her statement read, “Let me be completely clear again that I unequivocally condemn Hamas’ use of rape and sexual violence as an act of war. This is horrific and across the world, we must stand with our sisters, families, and survivors of rape and sexual assault everywhere to condemn this violence and hold perpetrators accountable.”
In the midst of this controversy, it is expected that a resolution will be introduced by two House Democrats while condemning the sexual violence and rape by Hamas militants against the women of Israel.
Biden’s accusation against Hamas
On Tuesday, the US President took a moment to criticize the militant group for not releasing more female hostages. He stated, “Let me be crystal clear: Hamas’ refusal to release the remaining young women is what broke this deal and ended the pause in the fighting. Everyone still being held hostage by Hamas needs to be returned to their families immediately. We’re not going to stop.”