A recent op-ed in the New York Times has ignited backlash from experts after it made serious accusations of widespread sexual violence against Palestinians by Israeli military personnel. Critics argue the article is fueled by a lack of credible evidence, describing it as a form of exaggerated, propagandistic rhetoric reminiscent of past disinformation campaigns.
The piece, authored by Nicholas Kristof, asserted that sexual torment is entrenched in Israel’s security system and even referenced claims from 14 former Palestinian detainees, alleging that the Israeli military trains dogs to assault prisoners.
However, many scholars and former officials have dismissed these severe claims as largely unconfirmed, with some labeling them as mere propaganda from Hamas.
Nadav Polak, who teaches Middle East studies at Reichmann University, criticized the article, calling it an example of “blood libel.”
He highlighted that while real incidents of abuse deserve examination, Kristof’s portrayal creates a misleading narrative that implicates all of Israel and unfairly compares it to Hamas.
This column appeared shortly before a comprehensive investigation was released, which provided evidence of rampant sexual violence against Israeli civilians during the October 7 Hamas assault.
Kristof’s article reiterated the words of a Palestinian journalist who claimed Israeli soldiers instructed them to enter with dogs. Eitan Fischberger, an analyst focusing on the Middle East, voiced skepticism, stating there’s no firm evidence of such rapes and suggested the claims are fabrications by a human rights organization based in Geneva.
He expressed outrage, asserting it’s disgraceful for Kristof to relay such exaggerated and misguided propaganda. The Times piece references a report from Euromed that maintains sexual assault is a pervasive aspect of Israel’s national policy.
Included in the report is an alarming account from a 42-year-old woman who described being chained and filmed during her assault by soldiers over the span of two days. Kristof mentioned he had engaged with 14 alleged victims and referenced a UN report referring to abuse as “standard operating procedure,” yet he conceded that there was no direct evidence of orders from Israeli leadership to commit such acts.
Gerald M. Steinberg, who founded NGO Monitor, cautioned against accepting “eyewitness accounts” from individuals linked to Hamas, labeling the article as “filled with falsehoods.”
Jacqueline Carroll, a former prosecutor specializing in sex crimes, admitted there may be a conflict of interest and called for hard, substantiated evidence to back such claims.
She remarked that if credible proof could be provided, it would warrant attention, though emphasized that media narratives often overshadow the search for factual accuracy.
