Hostages Speak. #MeToo Stays Silent.

The #MeToo movement, once a strong voice against sexual violence, has gone quiet after Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel and the return of Israeli hostages. This silence is troubling. It raises questions about whether the movement truly stands for all survivors or only for those who fit its political views.

On October 7th, Hamas launched a violent attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 people and kidnapping hundreds. Evidence shows that sexual violence was used as a weapon. Women were raped, tortured, and murdered. Witnesses described horrific scenes—terrorists publicly assaulting women before killing them or dragging them into captivity. These were not random acts of cruelty. They were planned and systematic.

Despite these horrifying reports, #MeToo took weeks to respond. When it finally did, the statement was weak. It spoke of “civilian atrocities” but failed to mention sexual violence or hold Hamas responsible.

This is not the response we have come to expect. When cases like those of Harvey Weinstein and Brett Kavanaugh came to light, #MeToo spoke out immediately, demanding justice. Now, when faced with undeniable evidence of sexual violence, the movement has gone silent.

This inconsistency reveals a bigger problem: politics influencing advocacy. Some groups hesitate to call out crimes when the perpetrators are linked to causes they support. But justice cannot be selective. If a movement claims to support all survivors, it must do so without bias. It cannot pick and choose whose suffering deserves recognition.

When Israeli hostages returned, new reports confirmed that female captives had suffered months of rape, beatings, and psychological abuse. Yet, #MeToo still said nothing.

Why does it take overwhelming public pressure for some victims to be acknowledged? Why do some crimes spark global outrage while others are ignored?

For Jewish survivors, this silence feels like a betrayal. “They told us to believe all women,” said one Israeli activist. “But when it was us, they stayed quiet.”

Many Jewish communities once supported #MeToo, believing it stood for all victims. Now, they feel abandoned. A movement that once demanded justice for survivors has, in this case, chosen silence over action.

The selective advocacy is also visible in universities. Jewish students who once saw #MeToo as an ally now say they are ignored when they speak about sexual violence against Israelis. Some have even faced backlash for bringing up the issue. Groups that once supported survivors now refuse to listen. This is not just a failure to act—it is a decision to erase the suffering of certain victims.

By refusing to address all cases of sexual violence, #MeToo is weakening its own cause. A movement that once fought to end silence now engages in the very behavior it once condemned. Ignoring Hamas’ crimes contradicts its original mission: to support all survivors, no matter the circumstances. If some victims can be overlooked, then the movement’s credibility is in danger.

This double standard is even clearer when compared to past responses. #MeToo has spoken out about sexual violence in war zones before. It has condemned crimes in places like Ukraine and Sudan. It has called for justice when soldiers and armed groups have attacked civilians. Yet when the victims are Israeli women, it looks the other way.

When movements allow bias to shape their responses, they weaken the fight against these crimes everywhere. A movement that claims to protect victims must act with consistency. Ignoring documented crimes because they do not fit a certain agenda is a betrayal of its mission.

The return of Israeli hostages should have been a moment for #MeToo to reaffirm its commitment to justice. Instead, it has revealed the movement’s hesitation to confront difficult truths. If #MeToo continues to ignore these crimes, it risks losing the trust of those who once believed in it. Survivors and advocates worldwide are watching, and silence will not be forgotten.

Sexual violence is not a tool for activism—it is a crime that demands justice, no matter who the victims are. If #MeToo truly believes in its cause, it must speak up now. If it does not, it will become just another movement that decides whose voices matter and whose do not. The world is watching—and so are the survivors who are still waiting for justice.

#MeToo now faces a crucial test. Does it stand for all survivors, or only those who fit a preferred political narrative?