News/Politics thread by @TheGreeneBJ

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Another article accusing Hamas of "widespread" mass rape, this time the New Yorker, based on an interview with an Israeli NGO worker who authored a report.

Very serious allegations so let's again look at the evidence they present...

🧵🧵🧵

2

Let's not forget the crucial fact that Israel lies and gets eyewitnesses to flat out make up atrocities to give to the public - as has been proven many, times and is even acknowledged by Israeli press.

Just because someone said it doesn't make it true

Bryce Greene@TheGreeneBJ

First fact to keep in mind is that Israelis have blatantly lied about 10/7 atrocities in the past, many of which were picked up and repeated uncritically by "objective" mainstream news outlets.

This Ha'aretz article goes over some of the bigger lies (haaretz.co.il/news/politics/…)

3

The first explosive allegations comes from a woman who was part of the body recovery team - likely Zakat or one of the similar groups.

The next comes from a video provided by Israeli police from an alleged witness.

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The recovery group is likely ZAKAT - have close ties to the Israeli far right, and have given demonstrably false and uncorroborated testimony about 10/7. GZ did a good report on these groups. Read the full thing and check sources if unconvinced

(thegrayzone.com/2023/12/06/sca…)

5

The police testimony is one we've heard before. Anonymous, uncorroborated and provided by police. This should raise all the red flags.

Bryce Greene@TheGreeneBJ

The second comes from anonymous video taped testimony provided by Israeli police.

The woman's claims are extreme and should be regarded with extreme caution. Police provided testimony should be regarded with skepticism, especially anonymous, especially from Israel...

                            6
                        
So first we have two extreme claims originating  from government affiliated sources.

And remember Israel is not above fabricating evidence.

Not off to a convincing start.

7

Again, testimony from recovery groups must be taken with a grain of salt.

These videos and images mentioned here we've seen before. The description isn't entirely accurate but neither are proof of SA, let alone mass rape as is being alleged

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Yet AGAIN we have Zakat testimony that is uncorroborated reports of "piles of women" and horrific mutilation.

Even here they acknowledge that this is unverified by BBC where they got it, and Israeli media are questioning the testimony.

Of course, no questions here though

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To be clear, the above comes from a BBC report cited by the New Yorker as corroboration for their claims.

But it originates from the same sources.

10

Now we get to the Q and A:

Here we see a now familiar line:

"we haven't interviewed actual witnesses"

Then what are you doing here exactly?

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They say they haven't talked to witnesses because it's been too short of a time and they're not equipped to conduct trauma sensitive interviews.

Why then are you writing a report about something you have zero expertise in?

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"usually we don't work on issues like this"

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So what is their methodology? Saw some videos and talked to the IDF.

14

When asked about numbers, she said "I think it was widespread" but most of the evidence is either nonexistent or in the hands of police.

Later she says it's easier to say "widespread" rather than "systematic" because for the latter you need evidence, but "widespread" is vague.

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As for the videos, it's the same two we've all seen before. As we should know by now none of them prove anything.

A half dressed woman at a music festival does not mean that her clothes were removed. Bloody pants in a warzone does not mean SA.

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She claims to have talked to a doctor about allegations of mutilation.

The doctor told her that his colleagues confirmed it. I guess double hearsay is enough for this NGO to publish as absolute fact.

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Then we have another familiar line. Some of the cases may turn out to be nothing but it doesn't matter.

"If some of it turns out to be bullshit, trust us, the rest is legit"

We've seen this attitude before

Bryce Greene@TheGreeneBJ

This article is really just epistemological warfare. It's based exclusively on the word of one investigator who claims to have mountains of evidence, but provides none.

I have never seen an investigator so hostile to the idea of providing evidence for the claims they make...🧵

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Again the "asking anonymous doctor to ask his anonymous colleagues" method at work

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Allegations of sexual assault are serious and require evidence.

Allegations of mass rape are even more serious and require a very high evidentiary bar.

What this appears to be is a coordinated disinformation campaign.

Imperial lies are par for the course.

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Lies about sexual assault are especially powerful in propaganda campaigns.

Check your sources and stay vigilant

Bryce Greene@TheGreeneBJ

No fucking way this is being trotted out again. No fucking way.

Time is a flat circle

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You can read it for yourself and make your own conclusions

Isaac Chotiner@IChotiner

New Interview: I talked to Hadas Ziv of Physicians For Human Rights about the sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7th, and how best to support those who survived. newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/h…

Another article accusing Hamas of "widespread" mass rape, this time...

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