<\/p>\n
A man marrying off his 14-year-old daughter \u201cin exchange for two bags of flour so he and his [other] children could eat\u201d would, according to the BBC, \u201chave been unthinkable before the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in 2023.\u201d And a UN representative attributes a breakdown in social structures to the \u201cextreme circumstances\u201d of the past three years.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s all too familiar. Back in 2012, The Guardian was blaming the Israeli blockade on Gaza for increasing conservatism in the Strip, leading to Palestinian men beating their wives in frustration.<\/p>\n
At the time, I posited<\/a>:<\/p>\n Maybe The Guardian\u2019s journalist might like to consider that violence against women might very well be a by-product of a society that glorifies violence and terrorism, where children can spend their summers learning jihadi skills at Hamas sleepaway camps.<\/p>\n And what about Hamas control over Gaza, which encourages a conservative Islamic attitude towards women, curtailing their freedoms, opportunities and even their dress codes? <\/p>\n And here we are again. Societal flaws are whitewashed in favor of blaming Israel for the extreme circumstances that lead to extreme behavior. Like with so much of the world\u2019s treatment of Palestinians, their agency is removed, and their own bad behavior is excused.<\/p>\n One final thought: The sexual crimes committed on October 7 by Hamas and supposed Gazan \u201ccivilians\u201d who infiltrated Israel on that day were on an almost unimaginable scale of debauchery. Yet, Israel has been confronted with a wave of rape denial. <\/p>\n \u201cIt never happened.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cPalestinian men simply wouldn\u2019t commit such atrocious acts against women.\u201d<\/p>\n Well, guess what: They are certainly capable. Just ask Gazan women and young girls.<\/p>\n Liked this article? Follow HonestReporting\u00a0on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a> to see even more posts and videos debunking news bias and smears, as well as other content explaining what\u2019s really going on in Israel and the region. Get updates direct to your phone. Join our WhatsApp<\/a> and Telegram<\/a> channels!<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t