NYT Defends Kristof Column on Palestinian Rape Claims

The New York Times has defended veteran columnist Nicholas Kristof’s May 11 opinion piece, “The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians,” which alleges widespread sexual violence by Israeli security forces against Palestinian detainees.

The column, allegedly based on interviews with 14 Palestinians and reports from viciously anti-Israel pro-Hamas groups including Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor and self-hating Jew Shaiel ben-Ephraim, describes claims of rape, sexual abuse, humiliation, and even the use of trained dogs. Kristof wrote that there is “no evidence that Israeli leaders order rapes” but criticized the lack of international condemnation.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the piece as “one of the worst blood libels” in modern media, accusing the Times of deliberately publishing it ahead of an independent Israeli report on Hamas’s systematic use of sexual violence on October 7, 2023. Officials noted the newspaper had been informed of the Israeli report months earlier.

Olmert Controversy

Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert accused Kristof of misrepresenting his comments. In the column, Kristof quoted Olmert saying he was “not surprised” by the accounts and believed such things happen. Olmert clarified that he has “no knowledge supporting these claims” and that the placement of his quote made it appear as validation of the most extreme allegations.

Internal NYT Discussions

Journalist David Shuster reported on X that longtime sources inside the New York Times say there are already internal discussions, including at the masthead level, about possibly retracting or addressing issues with Kristof’s column, citing concerns over source credibility and lack of evidence. Kristof strongly denied the claim, calling Shuster’s post “completely untrue.”

Planned Protest

Jewish organizations, including EndJewHatred and others, have announced a protest outside the Times’ Manhattan headquarters on Thursday over what they describe as dangerous libels.

The controversy continues to fuel intense debate over media credibility, sourcing standards, and coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.

The Times has so far pushed back against calls for a retraction.