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Some lies are just too appalling to stomach. Yet these deceptions twist the truth into a grotesque pretzel that thousands, even millions, eat freely of. The heinous acts of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis were kept from the public for many years, but when the full scope of their evil deeds was finally revealed, a wave of grief and utter disbelief fell upon the world. Unfortunately, there were also those who were apathetic, unfazed, or denied the gravity of what had occurred.
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How Does Evil Gain a Foothold?
I first learned about the Holocaust in seventh grade. I will never forget staring at the photos of concentration camp victims. Their lifeless, emaciated bodies became etched into my memory. As a young girl, I wondered how something so horrible and inhumane could occur.
When we examine what happened on October 7, 2023, and how the world responded, it’s not so hard to understand how these things unfold. After all, many people have aligned themselves with the terrorists, rather than the victims of the unimaginable atrocities. These wayward sympathizers irrationally insist that the brutal murders of 1,200 people, as well as the verified, documented cases of torture, kidnapping, and rape, are justified because Israel commits so-called genocide.
But the glaring truth cannot and will not be ignored, or hidden behind bald-faced lies. In fact, we know that God’s Word states, For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light, Luke 8:17.
Silenced No More Reveals the Shocking Truth
A comprehensive report documenting the violence perpetrated by Hamas and its collaborators has been released by the Civil Commission, and it brings their deeds into the light for all to see. This commission was founded “to document, research, and raise international awareness of the war crimes and gender-based violence committed by Hamas and their collaborators against women, children, and families during their brutal attack on Israel on October 7th and in captivity.”
The report, titled Silenced No More, “draws on extensive factual documentation, including original filmed survivor and witness testimonies, interviews, photographs, videos, official records, and other primary materials from the attack sites. The investigation examined material from multiple locations, including residential communities, the Nova music festival and surrounding areas, roads and shelters, military bases, and sites associated with the identification of victims’ bodies. It further analyzed testimonies and evidence relating to the abduction, transfer, and prolonged captivity of hostages in Gaza.”
Like the Holocaust, which was thoroughly documented through the tireless efforts of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the crimes of October 7, 2023, have been preserved and secured in an archive that includes more than 10,000 photographs and video segments, countless testimonies, interviews, witness accounts, and expert consultations.
Thirteen Forms of Horrific Abuse
Reading through the report is difficult, but essential for anyone who wants to understand and digest the truth. Some of the key findings below have been quoted from the report and are listed on pages 21-23. Warning: the details are disturbing.
Key Finding 1: “Hamas and its collaborators used sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) deliberately and systematically as an inherent part of a wider strategy of the attack, primarily targeting women and hostages, while minors were also subjected to grave forms of such violence and abuse.” Evidence gathered shows sexual torture occurred in “private homes, public spaces, at the Nova Music Festival and adjacent areas, on roadsides, military bases, and in some cases in front of family members.”
Key Finding 2: “Hamas and its collaborators used sexual torture to maximize pain and suffering. Victims endured brutal acts, including burning, mutilation, rape, restraining, forced insertion of objects into the genitalia, shootings to the face and genital area, killings, and abuses in front of family members, and executions. Many victims were found handcuffed, bound, or otherwise physically restrained.”
Key Finding 3: “The Civil Commission identified at least thirteen patterns of abuse across multiple sites, including: 1) Rape, gang rape, and other forms of sexual assaults; 2) Sexual torture, including intentional burning and mutilation; 3) Deliberate shootings to the head, face and genital area; 4) Killings and executions following or committed in conjunction with SGBV; 5) Postmortem sexual abuse, humiliation, and desecration of bodies; 6) Forced nudity and exposure; 7) Handcuffing, binding, and restraint of victims; 8) Public displaying and parading of women and children; 9) Abduction of mothers and children; 10) SGBV inflicted in the presence or near vicinity of family members; 11) Filming and digital dissemination of SGBV, including use of social media to document, glorify, and amplify the atrocities; 12) Threats of forced marriage; 13) Rape and other forms of sexual violence against boys and men.”
Key Finding 4: “Hamas and its collaborators committed kinocidal sexual gender-based acts” that were designed to destroy the family structure. This means that acts were “deliberately perpetrated against family members.” One case documented how victims within the same family were forced to perform sexual acts on one another. Evidence shows that some victims were sexually assaulted in front of family members to “maximize pain and suffering.”
Key Finding 5: “Hamas and its collaborators made strategic use of videos, digital and social media to exert and intensify harm and to perpetuate, glorify, and amplify the atrocities they committed, including sexualized content made for public display.” Bodies of women were presented as “trophies of war,” and videos featured humiliation, violent assaults, desecration, and sadistic behavior such as celebrating and glorifying the deaths of their victims.
The depravity of the attackers is showcased throughout the report. “The terrorists shot their eyes, their faces, and their breasts, and even targeted their most intimate parts, to destroy their beauty and rob their loved ones of a final goodbye.”
Raz Cohen, a survivor of the Nova Music Festival, is quoted in the document. “The men pulled a woman from the vehicle…forcibly removed her clothing, and raped her…They repeatedly stabbed her, killing her…they continued to rape her after her death.”
Ricarda Louk, mother of murdered victim Shani Louk, stresses, “They filmed everything. They wanted the world to see what they did to her.” Louk’s body was paraded through the streets of Gaza City in the back of a pickup truck by Hamas militants who yelled, “Allahu Akbar.” This became one of the first viral videos of the Gaza War and highlighted the brutality of Islamic terrorism.
The release of the Silenced No More report coincides with the passing of a law in Israel’s Knesset, which establishes a special military tribunal to try the perpetrators involved in the October 7 attacks (with a specific emphasis on sexual crimes).
Setting the Record Straight
While liberals, misinformed journalists, and activists say that Israel’s war on terror is an example of genocide, the truth is that Hamas and its collaborators are the ones who are guilty. “The Commission concludes that Hamas and affiliated actors have engaged in genocidal acts, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and SGBV amounting to torture… Sexual and gender-based violence was systematically and deliberately deployed as a tactic of terror…the prosecution of the sexual and gender-based crimes committed on October 7th and during captivity is an urgent priority.”
Commentators and influencers like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Nick Fuentes will likely ignore or discount this report. But that doesn’t change the truth. You see, lies can only survive for a certain amount of time. The truth, however, never dies. The victims and survivors of the October 7 attacks will not be forgotten, just as those who endured the Holocaust will never leave our memories. Most importantly, Almighty God has kept a record of each and every person who was murdered, assaulted, kidnapped, humiliated, and violated by the heartless terrorists and their accomplices.
Learning from History
Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower bore witness to the devastation of the Holocaust. His incredible foresight led him to mandate extensive documentation of the atrocities so that an irrefutable record would be established. After visiting Ohrdruf concentration camp, he stated, “The things I saw beggar description…I made the visit deliberately in order to be in a position to give firsthand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops the tendency to change these allegations to merely propaganda.” Eisenhower knew that someday there would be those who would attempt to hide the horrific truth, but he ensured that the evidence was preserved for future generations.
In our nation, there are people who have the audacity to call the brutal crimes committed against Israeli citizens “propaganda.” But the mountain of evidence is much bigger than this bald-faced lie. As we see the rise of Islam, radical Leftism, and antisemitism, we must be ready to give a bold account of the truth, as guided by the Holy Spirit.
So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known, Matthew 10:26.
Lord Jesus, the truth about the October 7, 2023, terror attacks has been laid bare to reveal the evil that was unleashed that day. We pray that this newly released report will be spread far and wide and open the eyes of those who have been blinded by the lies of the enemy. We pray for Your protection over the nation of Israel, America, and the world. Stop the vicious spirit of antisemitism and the hatred that flows from the hearts of those who are deceived. We need Your mercy more than ever.
If you would like to read the Silenced No More report, click on this link, as well as this one.
How have the October 7, 2023, terror attacks affected you as an intercessor? Post your prayers for the victims and their families below.
Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger, and former teacher who studies the signs of the times, as well as the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images.
