Gal Gadot says ‘the world has failed the women of October 7’ and calls on the UN to demand Hamas releases every female hostage immediately because ‘they can’t survive another moment of this horror’
Hollywood actress Gal Gadot has called on the United Nations to demand the immediate release of every female hostage held by Hamas, claiming the world has failed them.
The 38-year-old actress has been consistently vocal about her support for Israel since Hamas attacked Israel eight weeks ago.
Referring to the deadly Hamas raid, she said in an Instagram post last night: “The world has failed the women of October 7.
“We claim that we oppose rape and violence against women.
“We will not allow women to be victimized and then silenced.
“We say we believe women, stand with women and stand up for women.
Gal Gadot (pictured) has been consistently vocal about her support for Israel since Hamas attacked Israel eight weeks ago
Shani Louk, 22, (pictured) was declared dead after a bone was found from the base of her skull three weeks after she was taken by Hamas
Referring to the deadly Hamas raid, Gadot posted her message on Instagram last night
“On October 7, the world witnessed Hamas carrying out its violent plans in real time. Within hours of the October 7 attack, the first blood-curdling video emerged of Shani Louk being paraded naked and defiled by her proud attackers.
“Two months later, women are still held hostage by these rapists and the world has failed to call this situation what it is: an urgent emergency that demands a decisive response.
“This is our moment to take action as women and allies of women. I implore all those who have done so much for women's rights worldwide – from the UN to the human rights community, to join in the demand that Hamas immediately release every woman held hostage – not after the next round of international mediation, not after the next round of international mediation. after another day.
“These women cannot survive another moment of this horror.”
Ms Louk's motionless body was paraded by Hamas gunmen in Israel after the festival attack. It was unclear from the video whether she was still alive, although her mother later stated that she was alive and being held in a hospital in Gaza
Shani, 22, who was German but grew up in Israel, was one of hundreds of unsuspecting partygoers at the Nova festival where Hamas massacred some 260 civilians
Shani Louk, 22, was declared dead after a bone was found from the base of her skull three weeks after she was taken by Hamas.
She was kidnapped by armed men while she and her friends were partying at the Nova festival near Kibbutz Re'im. Her body was paraded after she was taken.
Although her family hoped she was still alive, her family confirmed her death in late October, although the circumstances of her death, as well as where and how the bone from her skull was found, are currently unclear.
Gadot, who spent two years in the IDF as a combat fitness instructor, has pushed for all remaining hostages to be released since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas.
Earlier this month, she hosted a Hollywood screening to show footage of the October 7 Hamas attack.
The 47-minute video titled “Bearing Witness to the October 7 Massacre,” provided by the IDF, was shown in select locations around the world, including Los Angeles and New York.
Smoke rising after Israeli attacks in Gaza is seen from Sderot in southern Israel
Young children injured in Israeli airstrikes arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on December 3, 2023
Palestinian civilians inspect the destruction caused by airstrikes on their homes on December 3, 2023 in Khan Yunis
Smoke rises over the Palestinian enclave during the Israeli bombardment, amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas
The footage, largely filmed by Hamas terrorists, includes murder, mass rapes and beheadings of Jewish people, as well as the Nova music festival massacre.
Shortly after the first attack, the former Miss Israel 2004 was one of the first Hollywood names to support Israel, writing: “I stand with Israel, you should too. The world cannot remain silent when these heinous acts of terror are taking place!'
The star also asked her followers to donate money to those affected by the attacks.
Gadot's call comes as Israeli investigators examining the fallout from the brutal October 7 attacks have found evidence that both men and women have been victims of sexual violence and rape at the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad attackers, activists claim .
Yael Sherer, a spokeswoman for the Israeli advocacy group Survivors of Sexual Violence, said there was both physical evidence and eyewitness accounts of sexual violence against both genders during the attacks.
There was sexual violence and rape in these communities in southern Israel… we have a few living survivors – not many – of both genders. It didn't just happen to women, it happened to men too,” Yael Sherer told BBC Radio 4.
“Apart from finding bodies of people who were murdered, many of the bodies were mutilated… terrorists made sure to shame and dishonor these people,” she added.
It comes as Israeli police opened the country's largest ever investigation into sexual violence and crimes against women.