In the midst of the devastating humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, an Israeli expert has proposed the recognition of a new crime against humanity: kinocide. This term describes the deliberate targeting and destruction of families as a weapon of war. According to Cochav Elkayam-Levy, an international law professor at Hebrew University and chair of Israel’s Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes Against Women and Children, kinocide represents a unique and horrifying form of violence designed to tear apart the very fabric of familial relationships, intensifying the suffering of victims in ways that traditional war crimes do not fully address.
Understanding Kinocide: The New Crime Against Humanity
Kinocide, as Elkayam-Levy suggests, is a distinct form of violence that targets familial ties, aimed at terrorizing and traumatizing individuals by dismantling their family units. This concept emerged following her team’s extensive investigation into the 2023 attacks by Hamas, during which they observed systemic patterns of sexual violence, mutilation, and destruction directed at families. Elkayam-Levy and her colleagues have documented shocking acts, including the use of victims’ social media accounts to broadcast their torture to friends and family, the murder of parents in front of their children, and the obliteration of family homes. These patterns indicate a deliberate strategy to use familial relationships as a weapon of terror.
By naming and recognizing kinocide as a crime against humanity, Elkayam-Levy advocates for a clearer understanding of the scale and the brutality of such crimes. This would not only aid in addressing the victims’ immediate needs but also help in long-term healing by acknowledging the profound trauma caused by the loss of family members, both physically and emotionally.
The Importance of Naming the Crime
Throughout history, there have been numerous instances where atrocities have been committed with the aim of destroying families. From the genocide of the Yazidis by ISIS to the devastation caused by the Rwandan Genocide, violence against families has been a persistent theme in many of the world’s most heinous conflicts. However, international law has yet to fully address this form of violence as a specific crime. Currently, family relations are mentioned in procedural contexts under the rules governing the International Criminal Court (ICC), but the concept of kinocide remains absent from legal frameworks that define war crimes.
Elkayam-Levy emphasizes that the lack of legal recognition for kinocide impedes victims’ recovery. Without a formal acknowledgment of the crime, there is no clear pathway for accountability, and justice becomes even more elusive. The recognition of kinocide would help shift the focus from mere political statements to genuine legal action, bringing justice to the victims of such horrific acts.
Patterns of Sexualized Violence and the Destruction of Families
Elkayam-Levy’s commission has meticulously cataloged the systemic sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas and its affiliates during the October 2023 attacks. These acts, which include rape, sexual mutilation, and torture, are part of a broader pattern of violence intended to degrade, humiliate, and terrorize women, children, and families. The team’s findings highlight not only the extreme nature of the violence but also the calculated use of familial ties to heighten the trauma experienced by victims.
In Gaza, women were subjected to sexualized violence, often in front of their families, exacerbating the psychological and emotional damage. Similarly, the violence endured by children, witnessing the brutal murder of their parents, was a tactic to ensure intergenerational trauma. This form of abuse is not only about inflicting physical harm but also about destroying the very essence of the family unit, which is central to an individual’s sense of identity, security, and support.
Global Responsibility: Addressing Sexual Violence and Accountability
Elkayam-Levy calls on the international community to confront these atrocities head-on, with moral clarity and legal precision. While Canada has taken steps to condemn Hamas for its role in committing sexual violence, Elkayam-Levy stresses that it is crucial to hold both sides accountable. The fact that international organizations such as UN Women failed to condemn Hamas’ sexual violence until months after the attacks is indicative of a broader issue: the lack of moral clarity in addressing sexual violence on the global stage.
This silence, according to Elkayam-Levy, fuels denial and perpetuates a cycle of injustice. As a result, she urges countries like Canada to lead by example, denouncing not only Hamas’ crimes but also demanding accountability from Israel for any sexual violence committed by its soldiers against Palestinian detainees. The false equivalence drawn between individual acts of sexual violence and systemic, politically-motivated sexual violence as a weapon of conflict must be avoided. Every victim deserves justice, regardless of their background or nationality.
Canada’s Role in Addressing Moral Clarity in International Law
Canada has long been a champion of human rights and gender equality, and its role in addressing global sexual violence is integral. The country’s feminist foreign policy, which includes funding initiatives to prevent sexual violence and support victims, should extend to a more vocal condemnation of acts like those perpetrated by Hamas. At the same time, Canada must demand accountability from Israel regarding any sexual violence committed by its soldiers against Palestinians.
However, as Elkayam-Levy points out, Canada, along with other Western leaders, has been hesitant to take a strong stand on these issues, opting for political considerations over moral clarity. This failure to take decisive action creates confusion and undermines global efforts to combat sexual violence as a weapon of war. Only through consistent and clear moral leadership can the international community begin to address the true scale of atrocities like kinocide and sexual violence in conflicts.
The Need for Legal and Political Action
Elkayam-Levy’s call for the recognition of kinocide is not just a legal proposal; it is a moral imperative. To allow such violence to go unaddressed would set a dangerous precedent for future conflicts, where the destruction of families becomes an accepted and effective method of warfare. The international legal community must act swiftly to incorporate kinocide into the framework of crimes against humanity, ensuring that victims receive the justice they deserve.
Moreover, political leaders around the world must prioritize the protection of families and the prevention of sexual violence in conflicts. This includes increasing support for victims, ensuring the preservation of evidence, and creating mechanisms for long-term healing and reconciliation. Only by fully acknowledging and addressing the unique violence that targets families can we hope to prevent such horrors from repeating in future conflicts.
Conclusion: A Call to Action for Global Justice
The destruction of families, as exemplified by the proposed crime of kinocide, is one of the most insidious forms of violence that can be perpetrated during conflict. It is a strategy designed not only to harm individuals but also to destabilize entire communities and societies. As global citizens, we must stand together in condemning such violence and in calling for accountability from all parties involved.
The time has come to act, not just in condemning acts of sexual violence but in recognizing the broader, more devastating implications of attacks on families. We must push for legal recognition of kinocide and demand that international institutions, including the ICC, take concrete steps to address this crime. The victims of such violence deserve justice, and the world must act to ensure that this new form of warfare does not go unpunished.