Did The Times Distort Evidence of Rape?

The content of an investigative article by The Times Magazine, published online on Friday 7th June, has compelled three Israeli professionals on the subject of women’s rights to depart from their normal policy of not responding to press articles. They feel the article represents cynical exploitation of their interviews.

In their response on LinkedIn, they explain that they agreed to be interviewed by The Times because, since October 7th, they have been ‘working actively to amplify the voices of sexual assault victims, especially in forums where such voices are often ignored.’

But to their regret, the published article misrepresented their views by omitting much of what they said and using selective excerpts, taken out of context, to serve the article`s agenda to support the prejudiced argument that claims of sexual violence are being manipulated by Israel.

They feel shocked and disappointed by the exploitation of their willingness to be interviewed.

Their views are supported by the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA) who wrote, ‘The Times’ claim that there is “insufficient evidence that Hamas intentionally and systematically used rape as a weapon of war” is, at best extraordinarily misleading.’

CAMERA describe another section of The Times article as ‘an egregious example of projecting Palestinian racism onto their Jewish victims.’

Sadly, that article by The Times is far from being the only example of refusal to believe that Israeli women were deliberately subjected to rape during the October 7th attack and the subsequent holding of female hostages.

Last week, a video clip of American commentator Briahna Joy Gray interviewing Yarden Gonen, the sister of an Israeli hostage, went viral after she rolled her eyes when Yarden urged the public to believe Israeli women when they speak out about sexual assault.

She was fired from The Hill’s YouTube show shortly afterwards. This report from ILTV News.