The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Meirav Leshem-Gonen, Israel
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5:02
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MP4
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324.3 MB
Statements from:
- Navi Pillay, Chair, Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
- Meirav Leshem-Gonen, Israel
- Ibrahim Khraishi, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN Office at Geneva
Teleprompter
Thank you, Mr President. My name is Meav
Lem
Gunn,
and I'm the mother of Rome Gunn,
a 23 year old woman who was hunted by Hamas terrorist on October 7th, 2023
trying to escape from the murderer hands.
She was shot while driving in a car with three other young people.
As the only survivor, she was brutally dragged by her long,
beautiful hair from the car along the road.
I was a witness to this reality while speaking with her on the phone,
hearing her helplessness and frustration without being able to help my baby.
That was 257 days ago.
Army and 119 other hostages are still being held
incommunicado in the Gaza Strip to this day,
Mr President,
I stand before you today not just as a mother but also a voice for women who
have endured unimaginable suffering whose pain is not acknowledged
When women's body are used as political tools.
When the dignity is set side because they are not on the right side,
it is a badge of shame for us all.
Since October 7th,
the world has been confronted with the grim reality of the sexual
violence that occurred on the day of the attack and during captivity.
However, despite horrifying testimony,
testimonies of survivors,
a comprehensive report by special representative of the
secretary General on Sexual Violence in conflict,
Mrs
Pamila patter
and charges of sexual violence and rape
in intentional tribunals in international tribunals,
the report of the CO
I has failed to properly address these accounts.
Mr President, the recent report
promote
trivialise the severity of sexual violence experienced by women in captivity
by reducing the suffering to mere parading of women as trophies.
This over simplification and dismissive attitude are not only
deeply insensitive but also indicative of a broader problem.
The unwillingness to confront uncomfortable truth
and the shocking decision to look away and
not reach out to help the helpless ones
released hostages such as a
miso,
Sana,
Gam,
Goel
Mog and Aviva Sigal have courageously shared the first hand experiences.
That testimonies should have been met with serious investigation and validation.
Instead, the stories have been overlooked by the report.
The international community must not allow
political consideration to override our core human
values.
Energy and resources should be directed towards
securing the release of the hostages and the
rehabilitation of the victims. We owe all hostages still held by Hamas. They always
in Gaza to do all in our power to release them immediately. I owe it to
Romi and so does the international community.
Mr. President,
Romi has a
father, two sisters and two brothers who have
their entire lives in the last 257 days to her release.
This is true for all 120 hostages who are still being held
hostage by Hamas in Gaza without any adequate information about the conditions,
health and status.
I stand before you today,
also as the representative of the family members who are also suffering.
The health is deteriorating and their pain should be acknowledged as well.
The enforced disappearance of the hostages by Hamas constitute cruel and
inhuman treatment both to the hostages and to their family members.
This reality was completely overlooked by the commission of inquiry.
I remember my conversation text messages with Roy
during that horrific day.
I knew she was hunted by terrorists who were shooting at them.
Roy
was trying to hide behind bushes and shushed me so they will not hear me as she wrote.
I remember the last call from Hoy on that fateful morning. She was terrified and I
felt utterly helpless as I listened to her suffering.
23 year old girls should not be taken hostage. No one should.
Mr. President, We should be on the same side.
The side fighting hostage talking, taking,
never accepting the use of young women as tools for trade.
I hope my woman
still believes in the free world.
Still believes in us and still believes that together
we will end the nightmare she is in.
I believe that we can do more for them. We can do better for them.
The hostages needs us. The world needs them. Please help me hug my daughter again.
Thank you, Mr President.