The world turned upside down in more ways than one on October 7, when Hamas terrorists launched a horrific attack on Israel, murdering at least 1,200 people, taking roughly 240 hostages, and raping and sexually brutalizing countless Israeli women in the process. 

While horror stories regarding the attack and the monstrous treatment of the hostages in the weeks since continue to emerge, a curious theme has accompanied them: the reluctance of certain women's groups and certain prominent women on the left to condemn these sexual atrocities. We've had a sitting congresswoman demure on the issue and insist that a "balanced approach" needs to be employed regarding the outrages. We've had a former First Lady, who famously championed the return of young girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014, reportedly remain mum on the matter of the women assaulted and held hostage by Hamas, even when asked to weigh in. The United Nations "UN Women" group initially remained silent on the matter, then belatedly tweeted a tepid, generic comment regarding it, weeks later got around to condemning Hamas on its Instagram account, and then, inexplicably backtracked on even that message. 

And all of these lackluster responses from those who typically advocate on behalf of women come despite the overwhelming evidence of these atrocities and in the face of confirmation by the State Department that they not only happened but are part of the reason Hamas refuses to return some of the women held hostage. 

But there remain some voices of reason on the matter — even among those on the left. It's exceedingly rare that I find myself agreeing with Hillary Clinton on much of anything. But on the issue of Israel and Hamas, her public comments have been largely spot-on. This includes her remarks on Monday to an assembly at U.N. Headquarters, delivered by video, in which she unequivocally condemned sexual violence.

Speaking at the UN session on sexual and gender-based violence in the October 7 Hamas terror attack, @HillaryClinton said:

“As a global community, we must respond to weaponized sexual violence wherever it happens with absolute condemnation. There can be no justifications and no… pic.twitter.com/iLBJbfh8PV

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) December 4, 2023

"As you well know, many women and girls were attacked brutally by Hamas on October 7th. And they have testified to the gender-based violence that they both experienced and witnessed. 

"As a global community, we must respond to weaponized sexual violence wherever it happens with absolute condemnation. There can be no justifications and no excuses. Rape as a weapon of war is a crime against humanity.”

Look, when she's right, she's right. And on this, Clinton's right. And she wasn't alone in this. Addressing the assembly, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) excoriated women's groups for their silence. 

“When I saw the list of women’s rights organizations who have said nothing, I nearly choked,” Gillibrand said. “Where is the solidarity for women in this country and in this world to stand up for our mothers, our sisters and our daughters?”

Senator Gillibrand called on the UN to denounce Hamas as a terrorist organization. The rest of her statement was made inaudible over the cheers and standing ovation from the room.

Gillibrand slammed the “horrific acts” committed by Hamas on October 7 as “truly indescribable.”

Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta, founder of LeanIn.org, and a staunch advocate for women's rights, also addressed the assembly, decrying Hamas' sexual atrocities: 

“Rape should never be used as an act of war.

“Silence is complicity. And in the face of terror, we cannot be quiet. That is why we are all here today to speak about unspeakable acts.

...

“For over a decade, I’ve been urging women to lean in. Now, I call on everyone to speak out. And if the world isn’t listening to us, we’re just gonna have to speak louder.

“Anyone who has a mother, a sister, a daughter, a wife, or a friend should join us to unite against rape. This goes beyond politics. If we can’t agree that rape is wrong, then we have accepted the unacceptable. Then the question will be not what is happening in the Middle East but what is happening to our humanity?”

While, again, there may be very little on which I agree with these women politically, this is an issue that far transcends politics. And the fact that some on the left can't find it in them to speak out against it tells you everything you need to know about them. 

"You can't contextualize rape...Women should speak up now." -- Moran Zer-Katzenstein (Israeli women's rights activist on FNC)

— Susie Moore ⚾️🌻🐶 (@SmoosieQ) December 4, 2023