Why US feminist groups ignore Israel's sexual crimes

A new report by the Palestinian Feminist Collective, “A Predatory State: Israeli Systemic Sexualized and Gendered Violence Against Palestinians,” chronicles Israel’s systematic violence against Palestinians before and since 7 October 2023.

The report details how sexualized and gendered violence, attacks on reproductive life and Israeli atrocity propaganda have been used to justify and carry out genocide.

Palestinian women have been forced to give birth without anesthesia, care for their families amid starvation and displacement and endure the destruction of Gaza’s reproductive healthcare system.

Yet major Western feminist organizations have largely ignored these crimes and excluded Palestine from their work on healthcare, safety and reproductive health.

We speak to Jenin, Palestine campaigner for CODEPINK, to discuss its new campaign, “Feminists: Stand with Palestine." Rooted in the Palestinian Feminist Collective’s report, the campaign is calling on women’s organizations to confront Israel’s gendered and sexual violence and support Palestinian reproductive and maternal health.