Learning and Building Based on Lessons from October 7

October 7 will forever be a dark day in Israel's history, marked by unimaginable violence and terror against innocent civilians. At the "Innovation in Psychiatry in the Shadow of War" conference, held on May 29-30 at the Daniel Hotel in Herzliya, leading experts gathered to discuss the urgent mental health challenges facing Israel. One of the most pressing topics was the brutal sexual assaults that occurred that day, emphasizing the need to acknowledge these atrocities while respecting the privacy of the survivors.

The panels brought together Dr. Shmuel Hirschmann, Dr. Yaara Ben Ari, Simcha Greiniman , Mirit Ben Mayor, Sherry Mendes, and Dr. Sharon Gal van-Raalte to address this critical issue.

As we navigate this unprecedented situation, we find ourselves learning and adapting in real time. There is no established playbook for handling such complex and sensitive issues, and we must build our responses based on the lessons emerging from these tragic events.

A few of the critical dilemmas include:

1. The Difference Between “Sexual Assault” vs. “Use of Rape as a Weapon”

The October 7 attacks revealed the brutal reality faced by women and girls who were subjected to horrible acts of rape and assault. Similar horrors were experienced by Israeli hostages. Despite overwhelming evidence, these atrocities have largely been ignored by human rights groups and international organizations. Many influential figures in politics, academia, and media have attempted to downplay or even deny these events.

This raises a critical issue: distinguishing between isolated incidents of sexual assault and the systematic use of rape as a weapon. Sexual assault, involving unwanted sexual contact or coercion, is a heinous crime with severe psychological and physical implications for the victim. However, when rape is used as a weapon of war, it becomes a deliberate strategy aimed at terrorizing and demoralizing a population to achieve broader military or political objectives. This strategic use of rape is intended to inflict psychological damage, break the community's spirit, and undermine the social fabric.

Sexual Assault:

• Definition: Sexual assault involves unwanted sexual contact or coercion. This can include a range of non-consensual activities that result in significant harm to the victim.
• Implications: The consequences of sexual assault are severe, often causing profound psychological trauma, physical injuries, and long-term emotional distress. Victims may experience PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a profound sense of violation and powerlessness. The impact on their mental and physical health can be long-lasting, requiring extensive support and care.

Use of Rape as a Weapon:

• Definition: The use of rape as a weapon is a deliberate strategy employed during conflicts to terrorize and demoralize a population. Unlike isolated incidents of sexual assault, this tactic is systematic and intended to achieve broader military or political objectives.
• Implications: Aims to inflict widespread psychological damage, destroy community cohesion, and undermine societal stability. This tactic is used to achieve military or political goals by breaking the spirit of the community.

Recognizing the distinction between sexual assault and the systematic use of rape as a weapon is not just a matter of legal and social precision; it is a moral imperative that shapes how we respond to these horrible crimes. The systematic use of rape as a weapon represents a form of warfare requiring a different approach to justice and support for the victims.?

2. The Importance of Gathering Evidence vs. Bringing Closure to Families Quickly

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, the importance of gathering evidence and bringing closure to families quickly emerged as a significant ethical challenge.

The Role of Evidence Gathering

Evidence gathering is crucial for several reasons:

• Legal Accountability: Detailed documentation, including photographs and eyewitness accounts, is essential for prosecuting those responsible for atrocities. This ensures that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
• Historical Record: Documenting these events provides a historical record for future reference, research, and education, preventing the erasure or denial of the atrocities.
• Justice for Victims: Collecting evidence honors the victims by acknowledging and addressing their suffering, providing a sense of justice crucial for the healing process of both survivors and the broader community.

The Need for Closure

On the other hand, bringing closure to families quickly is equally important:

• Emotional Healing: Families of the deceased need to begin the mourning process. Quick burials and respectful treatment of the bodies provide a sense of closure and allow families to start their healing journey.
• Respect and Dignity: Ensuring that the deceased are treated with respect and dignity is fundamental in many cultural and religious practices, honoring the memory of the victims and providing comfort to their loved ones.
• Preventing Prolonged Trauma: Delays in providing closure can prolong the trauma experienced by families. The longer families wait for the burial or identification of their loved ones, the harder it becomes for them to start healing.

Complications and Ethical Challenges

Balancing these two imperatives presents several complications and ethical challenges:

1. Respect for Privacy vs. Need for Evidence: Photographs and detailed documentation are necessary for evidence, but they can also violate the privacy and dignity of the deceased and their families. Striking a balance between these needs is challenging.
2. Timeliness: Gathering detailed evidence takes time, which can delay the process of bringing closure to families. This delay can cause additional emotional distress for the families who are waiting to lay their loved ones to rest.
3. Community Sensitivity: In communities with strong cultural or religious practices regarding death and burial, the need for swift closure can be even more pressing. Balancing the need for evidence collection with these community expectations requires careful consideration and sensitivity.

The Role of ZAKA

Simcha Greiniman, Deputy Commander of ZAKA, shared his profound experiences as a first responder during the October 7 attacks, describing scenes of unimaginable horror. With 32 years of service, Greiniman emphasized how ZAKA, an organization dedicated to honoring the dead through proper burial, typically avoids photographing the deceased out of respect for their privacy and to quickly bring closure to grieving families.

However, the unprecedented brutality of the October 7 events demanded a significant shift in their approach. Recognizing that rape was being systematically used as a weapon, ZAKA volunteers made the difficult decision to document the atrocities through photographs. They understood that preserving this evidence was crucial for holding the perpetrators accountable and ensuring that these crimes were neither forgotten nor ignored.

Greiniman’s account highlights the severe sexual violence that occurred and the imperative of documenting these crimes to secure justice for the victims. This decision underscores the ethical challenges faced by first responders in such extreme circumstances. While ZAKA's primary mission is to provide dignity to the deceased and comfort to their families, the extraordinary nature of the attacks required a different approach.

Balancing respect for the victims with the need to document the atrocities for legal and historical purposes presented a profound ethical dilemma. ZAKA’s choice to photograph the victims was a significant departure from their standard practices, driven by the urgent need for evidence. By documenting these crimes, ZAKA aimed to create a lasting record that would serve both as crucial evidence in legal proceedings and as a testament to the atrocities committed.

This delicate balance between honoring the deceased and gathering evidence exemplifies the complex role of ZAKA in the aftermath of October 7. Their actions highlight the broader implications of their work, navigating the intersection of respect for the dead, support for grieving families, and the relentless pursuit of justice. This challenging balance emphasizes the importance of carefully documenting atrocities to ensure accountability and historical accuracy.

3. The Ethical Responsibility of Storytelling vs. the Survivors' Right to Privacy in Their Healing Process

The Ethical Responsibility of Storytelling

Sherry Mendes and Dr. Sharon Gal Van-Raalte addressed the critical issue of ethically telling the victims' stories while maintaining their anonymity. This balance is essential to ensure that survivors feel safe and supported as they navigate their healing journeys. They emphasized the importance of raising awareness and seeking justice for the atrocities committed, but also highlighted the need to protect the identities and dignity of the survivors.

The ethical responsibility of storytelling involves carefully considering how and when these stories are shared. It is crucial to avoid re-traumatizing survivors through the retelling of their experiences. This means ensuring that the storytelling process is survivor-centered, giving them control over how their stories are used and presented.

Survivors' Right to Privacy in Their Healing Process

The survivors' right to privacy is a fundamental aspect of their healing process. Survivors must be empowered to control their narratives, deciding if and when they wish to share their stories. This approach helps survivors regain a sense of agency and control, which is often stripped away in traumatic experiences. Ensuring anonymity and respecting their wishes can significantly aid in their recovery, providing a safe environment for healing.

The sexual assaults on October 7 were horrific violations that have left deep scars on the survivors and the community. It is imperative that we listen to and support the victims, ensuring their stories are heard with dignity and respect. This involves creating a compassionate and understanding community that acknowledges their pain and supports their journey towards healing.

Challenges and Problems

Balancing the public’s right to know with the survivors' right to privacy presents several challenges:

• Media Pressure: The obsessive pursuit by the media and society to have survivors recount their stories can be detrimental. This pressure often leads to re-traumatization and hinders their recovery. The media must prioritize the well-being of survivors over the sensationalism of their stories.
• Control Over Narratives: Survivors must be allowed to decide if and when to share their experiences. Forcing them to tell their stories can strip away their sense of control and agency, which are crucial for their healing process.
• Anonymity: Maintaining the anonymity of survivors is vital to protect their dignity and privacy. This requires careful handling of their stories, ensuring that their identities are not disclosed without their explicit consent.

As we move forward, we must commit to providing the necessary resources and support to help survivors heal and rebuild their lives. This means respecting their need for privacy and control over their narratives. By doing so, we can create an environment that fosters healing and empowers survivors to turn their pain into a source of strength and growth.

Closing Thoughts

The events of October 7 have left a permanent mark on the Israeli nation, challenging us to confront the darkest aspects of human behavior while striving to support and heal those affected. As we continue to learn from these tragedies, it is imperative that we prioritize the needs of the survivors, respect their rights to privacy, and ensure that their stories are told with dignity and compassion. We urge everyone—legal, medical, media, and community groups—to work together to create a supportive environment for survivors.