Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) in a Sunday interview sharply criticized her Democratic colleagues in the House for not speaking out more forcefully against the sexual violence that Hamas inflicted on Israelis on Oct. 7 and, officials say, likely in the days since, as the US-designated terrorist organization continues to hold women hostage in Gaza.
“Absolutely,” Mace told guest anchor Gillian Turner on "Fox News Sunday" when asked about remarks calling for stronger global condemnation against the use of mass sexual violence.
“I can't think of anything more shameful to see these women's groups, to see women on the left, women in the House, my colleagues on the left who refuse to say what this is, which is shameful. It’s disgusting. It’s barbaric,” Mace said. “And we ought to be condemning it from every corner of our country. Every woman should be condemning this. And I think it’s shameful.”
Mace’s comments come as increased attention has come in recent days to the pre-planned sexual violence and brutal torture that many Israelis endured during the surprise attack on Oct. 7, which killed about 1,200 Israelis. In the subsequent weeks, much moral outrage has centered on Israel’s incessant bombing in Gaza that has killed more than 17,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
Last week, Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) came under fire for comments related to Hamas’s acts, which Mace called "excuses."
“Where are the women? Where are the women’s groups who professed to be fighting for women around the world who’ve been dead silent on this issue?” Mace said. “And I look at my colleagues in the House, where are they? Representative Jayapal -- her excuses last week.”
Mace, who has frequently been outspoken as a victim of rape herself invoked her own experience in expressing grief over the violence Israeli women suffered.
“I mean, we know now -- we know now that Hamas in their battle plan was to go in and systematically rape, mutilate, and murder these Israeli women,” she said. “And I’m -- I’m a survivor of rape, but the difference is that I survived. But many of these Israeli women didn't, and they were mutilated, and murdered while it was happening.”
