Time Magazine Features Israel’s First Lady on Hamas's Exploitation of Women

Time Magazine published a poignant piece by Israel's First Lady, Michal Herzog, emphasizing the urgent need for the release of hostages held by Hamas. In her article, Herzog focuses on the harrowing plight of women who are being subjected to brutal violence and sexual assault by their captors, highlighting Hamas's use of women's bodies as weapons of war.

Marking nine months since the October 7 attacks when the hostages were taken, Herzog's piece, titled "We cannot give up on the women abducted from Israel," calls for global awareness and action. She describes the horrific conditions and abuse faced by the hostages, painting a vivid picture of the medieval brutality inflicted upon them.

Herzog shares a disturbing account from the footage, where young women, bound hand and foot, are demeaned by their captors. “You are so beautiful," one captor leers at a young woman as he binds her hands. This chilling narrative underscores the dehumanization and exploitation these women endure.

Herzog calls on the international community to recognize and condemn the weaponization of women's bodies by Hamas. “We need to face the facts. This weaponizing of women’s bodies, this weaponizing of sexual assault and rape in warfare since Oct. 7, has taken the entire human race many steps backward," she asserts.

Questioning the silence around these atrocities, Herzog demands to know where the public outcry is. "Where is the voice—broken and piercing and fierce—on behalf of these women? On behalf of civilization?" she asks, urging the world to speak up for these women.

Highlighting the shared humanity and capacity for empathy, Herzog stresses the need to advocate for the hostages and the innocent women and girls in Gaza. She reflects on her roles as a woman and a mother, recognizing both the vulnerability and the power these roles encompass.

“I, along with millions of other women, haven’t given up. Not on these young women. And not on our humanity. I call upon every person to speak out for all the hostages—women and men—still being held by terrorists and help bring them home," she concludes.

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