In a series of inflammatory posts, a Cornell professor called the October 7th attack on Israel a “resistance” and denied that any rape or sexual assault occurred during that attack..
Eric Cheyftiz, a Professor of American Studies at Cornell University who specializes in settler colonialism and harm to indigenous peoples, began making several posts on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) about Israel on October 8th. In his posts, Cheyfitz called the attacks a “resistance.” He further stated that Israel and Hamas, “are mirror images of each other […] both target non-combatants: Israel in its continual aggression against the Palestinian people and Hamas in its resistance to that aggression.”
He also denounced “rumor mongers,” who he claimed were fabricating lies about cases of sexual assault and rape during the attacks. “The Israeli Defense Forces… does not have any evidence of rape having occurred.” He went on to argue that “even if the rumors were to prove selectively true, they serve only to dehumanize an entire people.” This comes in the face of a recent New York Times investigation that found, “a pattern of rape, mutilation, and extreme brutality against women” during the attack on Israel.
The posts come in the wake of the deadliest attack on Israel in recent history. Israel has worked to document the crimes, including collecting evidence of sexual assault and rape. Gruesome stories have emerged from the onslaught. Examples include testimony from one individual who described finding a teenage girl’s pants “pulled down towards her knees,” and the “remains of semen on the lower part of her back.” Another witness reported finding a woman, “naked from the waist down who had been bent over a bed and then shot in the back of the head.” Cheyfitz discounts such evidence.
Cheyfitz also claimed that Israel “started this war” with Hamas, implying that Israel is responsible for the attacks. This is a similar line of argument that appeared in the Student Assembly motion Resolution XX, which the Students for Justice in Palestine prepared for the SA.
The posts came before Israel launched its ground invasion of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 10,000 people in Gaza, per the Hamas-run health ministry.
When asked about the statements, Cornell University had no comment.
