Isabel Kershner, a longtime correspondent for The New York Times whose sons have reportedly served in the Israeli military, is facing growing scrutiny over her latest reporting on alleged October 7 sexual violence claims — particularly as renewed attention falls on documented abuse and sexual violence agaisnt Palestinians inside Israeli detention facilities.
Public scrutiny intensified following a recent report by Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times detailing allegations of severe abuse against Palestinian detainees at Sde Teiman prison, including claims involving sexual violence and the use of dogs against prisoners, including minors. Kristof’s report helped push allegations long documented by human rights organizations into mainstream American discourse.
Yet as renewed attention focused on Palestinian detainees, Kershner published new reporting reviving disputed and unverified October 7 rape allegations attributed to Hamas. Critics argue the timing reflects a recurring media pattern: whenever scrutiny intensifies around Israeli abuses against Palestinians, major Western outlets redirect attention toward unverified claims against Hamas to justify Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
At the center of Kershner’s latest reporting is Cochav Elkayam-Levy, one of the most heavily promoted sources behind claims of Hamas sexual violence. Elkayam-Levy and her organization became central to Western media coverage after October 7, with outlets and political leaders worldwide presenting her as a leading authority on the allegations.
However, Israeli media later reported accusations that Elkayam-Levy and her commission had misled donors, exaggerated evidence collection efforts, and spread misinformation related to October 7 claims. The controversy surfaced shortly after she received the prestigious Israel Prize.
Despite repeated disclaimers acknowledging that rape allegations could not be independently verified, outlets including CNN, BBC, Associated Press, and The New York Times amplified the narratives globally. The allegations quickly became central to political messaging used to justify Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Kershner’s own role has fueled further debate about conflicts of interest in Western reporting on Israel and Palestine. Years earlier, she publicly acknowledged that her children had served in the Israeli military, prompting criticism from media watchdogs who argued that major outlets often blur the line between reporting and national alignment in coverage of Israel and Palestine.
Verified: Israel’s decades long history of sexual violence against Palestinians
While Nicholas Kristof’s report detailing raping Palestinian hostages (prisoners) and children with dogs inside Israeli prisons shocked many Western readers, the allegations themselves are not new.
International human rights organizations, Palestinian legal groups, former detainees, and Israeli whistleblowers have documented abuse inside Israeli prisons for decades before October 7.
Reports from groups including Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem, Defense for Children International-Palestine, and UN experts have repeatedly accused Israeli authorities of torture, sexual humiliation, rape, beatings, stress positions, denial of medical care, and the use of dogs during raids, interrogations, and detention operations involving Palestinians — including children.
More recently, former Israeli soldier and whistleblower Shaiel Ben-Ephraim publicly discussed the issue during an interview with Piers Morgan, describing the abuse as widely known inside the Israeli system.
“A lot of people in these prisons, both members of the prison service and IDF officers… are completely aware of the use of dogs,” Ben-Ephraim stated.
He further confirmed that dogs had been used to carry out acts of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, intensifying calls for independent international investigations into Israeli detention practices.
In 2023, additional scrutiny emerged after a former U.S. State Department official, Josh Paul, involved in overseeing arms transfers to Israel stated publicly that Washington was aware Palestinians — including minors — were being subjected to abuse and sexual violence inside Israeli detention facilities.
The comments added to growing criticism that American officials continued military support despite knowledge of alleged human rights violations.
