The ongoing surge in violence-in Israel/Palestine is deeply impactful and distressing. Within the communities of Israel and the Gaza Strip, the immediate experience of violence and trauma is palpable. There has been a rise in reported gender-based and sexual violence in the region, and there is concern that these forms of violence may continue to escalate in the coming years.
KASAP aims to establish a supportive and safe community for every survivor of sexual violence. The intricacies of the ongoing conflict in the region surpass the scope of a single post. However, the reality is that the impact of violence, trauma, and human suffering on all individuals in the region is profound. As the fighting in Gaza continues, we call for all parties to protect civilians, especially children, and to forcefully condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S and around the globe.
Traumatized and grieving survivors in Kentucky, with connections to loved ones in Israel and Gaza, are also contending with increasing hate and intolerance directed towards Jewish and Muslim communities in their local environment. Additionally, it is common for individuals who have experienced harm to have their own trauma triggered when they witness depictions of real-world violence.
Now is the time to stand together against hate. Central to KASAP’s work are the values of non-violence, social justice, and survivor empowerment. We embrace these values because KASAP acknowledges historical violence across societies and the enduring, detrimental effects such acts can have on people in their lifetimes and for generations to come.
Survivors of trauma are the experts of their own experience and deserve immediate and equitable access to the support they need. If you or someone you care about has experienced sexual violence and is having trouble, please know KASAP’s 13 rape crisis centers in Kentucky are available to provide both direct support and provide connection to other useful resources. Free, confidential, 24/7. Please find your local rape crisis center’s contact information via kasap.org, or call or chat today.
