Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., reaffirms its commitments to combat antisemitism and provide unwavering support of Israel’s right to exist, especially when such is challenged at the United Nations (UN). Since October 7, 2023, anti-Israel, anti-Zionist and antisemitic rhetoric has increased significantly in the United States and across the globe.
Since Hamas's terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, the UN has failed to secure the release of hostages from 25 counties, refused to hold Hamas accountable for crimes against humanity including the weaponization of sexual violence, and given a pass to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), whose employees participated in Hamas’s attack.
In 2024, the UN granted the Palestinian Authority “Permanent Observer State” status and unprecedented privileges to participate in United Nations General Assembly activities. The Palestinians, backed by Russia, Iran and China, used their new powers to introduce and pass biased and one-sided resolutions that attempt to strip Israel of its sovereignty and obligation to defend its citizens.
As a health and humanitarian organization, Hadassah is outraged by these attempts to villainize Israel, the sole democracy in the Middle East, for taking action as a sovereign nation to protect its people from harm. The UN can no longer be allowed to embolden Hamas and show other terrorists that it will reward efforts to kill, kidnap and rape innocent civilians.
The European Union sanctioned Hamas for widespread sexual and gender-based violence in a systemic manner on October 7, 2023. In addition, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Hamas leaders with committing acts of terrorism on October 7, 2023, including using sexual violence as a weapon of brutality against Israeli women. Still, the UN has failed to take any concrete action to hold Hamas accountable for their acts of terrorism against Israel.
Hadassah urges leaders to fervently fight antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment and calls on:
- US policymakers to continue their steadfast support of our ally Israel and to work through diplomatic channels to rally other countries and allies to stand with the US against antisemitic and anti-Israel UN resolutions.
- American officials and foreign governments to follow the lead of the US DOJ and take independent actions to hold Hamas accountable for acts of terrorism on October 7, 2023, including the weaponization of sexual violence.