Israel Denounces NYT Op-Ed on Sexual Abuse Claims as Commission Releases Oct. 7 Findings
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · May 12
Israel Denounces NYT Op-Ed on Sexual Abuse Claims as Commission Releases Oct. 7 Findings
5 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · May 12
Israel's Foreign Ministry said the New York Times ran a "shameful attack" on Israel just before findings from Israel's Civil Commission on Hamas's Oct. 7 sexual violence were released.
The ministry said the commission had approached the Times months earlier, but the paper was "not interested" in reporting its findings and instead prominently published Nicholas Kristof's op-ed and video on Monday.
Kristof wrote that 14 Palestinians described sexual abuse by Israeli soldiers, settlers, Shin Bet interrogators and prison guards, while acknowledging he had no evidence Israeli leaders ordered rapes.
Israeli officials and some activists challenged the sourcing, with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter urging readers not to accept "blood libels" and critics questioning the credibility of groups cited in the piece, including Euro-Med Monitor.
Why did the NYT publish claims against Israel while reportedly ignoring a report on Hamas's abuses?
When sources have alleged terror ties, how can media ethically report on wartime sexual violence?
Is the war over sexual violence claims about justice for victims or about winning global public opinion?