A powerful protest has taken place in London to raise awareness for the 14 female hostages still held in Gaza a year after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
The event, part of the ongoing “Rape Is Not Resistance” campaign, saw women march from Piccadilly Circus to the BBC headquarters, wearing trousers covered in red paint as a stark reminder of the horrific sexual violence perpetrated during the terrorist attacks.
Women who were held hostage in Gaza and have since been released as part of a deal reported having been sexually abused while in captivity or witnessing the violation of other hostages.
The red-dyed trousers were a reference to the harrowing images of victims, particularly Naama Levy, who was filmed with blood on her trousers when she was being loaded into a vehicle by Hamas.
Levy, along with the other hostages, has endured a year of unimaginable suffering, said organisers, who called for their immediate release and condemned sexual violence being used as a weapon of war.
“It’s vital that we do not remain silent while women are exploited in acts of war. This issue transcends political conflict; it’s about human rights and dignity,” said organiser Itai Gal from Stop the Hate UK, which coordinated the rally.
“These 14 women have been held hostage for a year, facing unspeakable abuse. Our march today sends a clear message: Rape is never resistance, and we will not stop until these women are freed.”
The rally culminated outside the BBC headquarters, where protesters demanded greater media coverage and international pressure on Hamas for the release of the hostages.
Among the attendees was Jade, who shared her personal experiences since the October 7 attacks. “I didn’t have many Jewish friends before that day, and many [non-Jewish friends] distanced themselves from me,” she reflected.
“The media has often presented a biased view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and educating people is essential,” said Jade, who described facing hostility during the march but found encouragement from supportive onlookers. “Even with the abuse, the few thumbs up and nods made it worthwhile,” she said.
The protest highlighted the ongoing impact of the October 7 attacks, during which many civilians, including women and children, were captured.
A UN report in March said that there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that sexual violence occurred on October 7, including rape or gang rape. It also reported that it had “convincing information” to show that some of the hostages had been subject to sexual violence or sexualised torture.
