Grace Tame has issued an apology after her March comments, in which she appeared to dismiss reports of sexual violence by Hamas during the October 7 attacks as 'propaganda' and claimed the allegations had been 'debunked,' were misinterpreted.
During an interview with ABC Sydney Mornings host Hamish Macdonald in March, Tame was asked about reports of extreme sexual violence against Israeli women on October 7, 2023. She responded by stating she would 'not sink to the level of … of entertaining any kind of propaganda' and that 'those things have been debunked.' When pressed by Macdonald, who cited findings from the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict that indicated reasonable grounds to believe conflict-related sexual violence occurred, Tame stated that 'awful things are being perpetrated by both sides' but that it was 'not a fair fight.'
In her clarification, Tame stated, "There is something I have wanted to clarify for a while, which I regret not clarifying sooner. I stand with survivors of sexual violence everywhere, no matter who they are."
She continued, "Comments I made on ABC radio in March this year were misinterpreted to mean that I disbelieve Israeli survivors of sexual violence. This is not the case. I always have, and always will stand with survivors of sexual violence."
Tame also noted that Human Rights Watch was unable to find evidence to support claims of mass rape on October 7, 2023, but added that she does not deny legitimate accusations of rape made by individual Israeli women, including accounts of gang rape.
"I believe Israeli survivors, I believe Jewish survivors, as I believe all survivors," Tame stated. "While the intention of my remarks was not to imply otherwise, I acknowledge and sincerely apologise for any harm their mischaracterisation has caused."
Tame, a survivor of child sexual abuse herself, has been a vocal advocate for legal reforms and human rights causes. Her apology follows an admission that she has lost speaking engagements for the remainder of the year.