Israel has accused The New York Times of publishing a 'blood libel' after an opinion piece on Monday alleged widespread rape of Palestinian prisoners. In the column titled 'The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians', Nicholas Kristof interviewed 14 alleged victims of sexual abuse. Several sources claimed they were raped countless times with batons by Israeli prison guards, while others had their genitals beaten or yanked, with one reportedly requiring amputation due to severe injuries. Another anonymous Gazan journalist said he was raped by a dog as soldiers laughed and took photos.
Kristof argued that while Israeli leaders may not explicitly order rape, the country's security apparatus fosters an environment where sexual violence is a key component of Palestinian mistreatment. He noted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelled reports of sexual violence as 'baseless,' similar to how Hamas dismissed claims of rape during the October 7 attacks.
Israeli Government Response
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the article on social media, claiming the NY Times 'chose to publish one of the worst blood libels ever to appear in the modern press.' The statement continued: 'In an unfathomable inversion of reality, and through an endless stream of baseless lies, propagandist Nicholas Kristof turns the victim into the accused. Israel – whose citizens were the victims of the most horrific sexual crimes committed by Hamas on Oct 7, and whose hostages were later subjected to further sexual abuse – is portrayed as the guilty party.' The ministry added that the publication is part of a 'false and well-orchestrated anti-Israel campaign' aimed at placing Israel on the UN Secretary-General's blacklist.
'Blood libel' is a harmful antisemitic trope originating in the Middle Ages that falsely accuses Jews of murdering Christians for religious rituals. The term has evolved to encompass modern malicious conspiracy theories targeting Jewish people and Israel.
Columnist's Claims and Reactions
In the article, Kristof cited a speech where Netanyahu demanded global condemnation of Hamas's October 7 sexual violence, asking, 'Where the hell are you?' Kristof wrote: 'Think of it this way: The horrific abuse inflicted on Israeli women on Oct 7 now happens to Palestinians day after day. It persists because of silence, indifference and the failure of American and Israeli officials alike to answer Netanyahu's query.' He also claimed the US is 'complicit' as tax dollars subsidize the Israeli security establishment.
Honest Reporting, a pro-Israel media watchdog, alleged inconsistencies in a key complainant's account, claiming they previously expressed pro-Hamas views. Journalist David Collier accused the publication of 'acting like a Hamas mouthpiece to deliberately spread misinformation,' while commentator Emily Schrader said spreading 'absurd claims' that Israel uses dogs to rape Palestinians makes a 'mockery' of sexual violence victims.
Context of Previous Allegations
These new allegations mirror accounts from Sde Teiman military prison, where in July 2024 CCTV footage appeared to show Israeli guards sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee. The prisoner later required hospital treatment for internal injuries, including tears to his rectum and a punctured lung. Soldiers were charged with aggravated abuse and causing serious bodily harm, but charges were dropped in March 2026 – a decision praised by Netanyahu.
Kristof's piece was published just before the release of a comprehensive report on October 7 sexual violence by the Israeli women's rights NGO, The Civil Commission. The report, titled 'Silenced No More', highlights over 430 testimonies from witnesses, survivors, and medical staff detailing horrors from the Nova music festival and Kibbutzim attacks. It provides evidence of systematic sexual violence by Hamas terrorists, including rape, gang rape, mutilation, and forced nudity. The report found that abuse was not isolated but a recurring pattern, with victims including men and women. It examined over 10,000 photographs and videos totalling more than 1,800 hours of visual analysis.
