The Sxl Horrors of October 7th: The Necessity of Bearing Witness
I’m reading the report.
Silenced No More. Sexual Terror Unveiled: The Untold Atrocities of October 7 and Against Hostages in Captivity by the Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by H-m-s Against Women and Children.
It is a horror to read. But I keep reading.
Yesterday, I finished the section that is composed of the narratives of some former hostages and victims, and their families, and those who helped the victims, and handled the bodies. 212 experiences, events, moments, tragedies described in words that hint at so much pain.
It is painful to read what these women, children, men experienced. It is painful to know so clearly that evil exists. It is painful to know that evil doesn’t recognize itself. It is painful to know that coercion, control, contempt can cause so much harm: bodily, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually. It is painful to know that so many people are so blinded by Jew hatred into thinking that this did not occur. It is painful to know that so many people think that this is okay since the victims are Israelis and Jews. It is painful.
Not nearly as painful as the experience.
And so, I see it as my responsibility to the victims to read the report. To carry, so very slightly, some of their burden by being a witness to their testimony—their lives, their experiences, and, sometimes, their brutal deaths.
This is a way to mentally support them: hear their voices, support their hearts, breathe with/for them, mourn the loss of each life. It is my responsibility as a human being, a woman, a Jewish woman, an Israeli woman to support those women, children, and men who were sexually assaulted, murdered viciously, as well as those who survived the barbarous conditions of captivity in Gaza.
Repeatedly, I needed to take a break from reading: overwhelmed by facts, details—perversity. Flooded with tears. Stared at the ceiling. Breathed in and out, clearing the moment from envisioning the unnatural acts that were done to women, children, men: monsters invading humans. I would get up to do the dishes, water the plants, go to the bathroom, step away from the downward pressure of horror and hopelessness, pity and admiration, sorrow and love.
I will continue reading to the end: to page 280.
I will donate again to organizations working with survivors, working with their trauma, working to help them feel as whole as possible again, to live their lives.
I beseech each of you to do what you can to hear and help the victims.
Stop the world from spinning on this spiral of evil.
Do not accept blaming the victims. Do not allow the voices of hate to overpower those of love and acceptance. Acknowledge the harm done. Do not cower or concede space to the antisemites, the deniers, the minimizers. Be a mensch! אנא. Ana. Please.
