The New York Times Must Answer for “Screams Without Words”

For generations, The New York Times has borne the reputation as the nation’s paper of record—a standard-bearer for rigorous, verified journalism that shapes public understanding of world events. When the Times speaks, policymakers listen, other media outlets follow, and public opinion crystallizes around the narratives it presents. 

But in December 2023, the Times published an investigation claiming to document a deliberately deployed and systematic pattern of widespread sexual violence against Israeli women on October 7th. No such evidence existed. The story has since been thoroughly debunked by its own sources, medical professionals, and independent journalists. 

This mendacious article had far-reaching consequences. It became the anchoring credible media source for the state of Israel to deepen its dehumanization of Palestinians and solidify the narrative groundwork for its genocide in Gaza. Israel and its supporters also used it as part of its policy justifications for the U.S. to back the genocide.

As Jews, we are all too familiar with how propaganda is used to dehumanize an entire people and to manufacture consent to commit atrocities against them. Over the past two years, we have watched this article, and the powerful emotions it evokes, be weaponized again and again to help Israel justify its killing more than 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza. 

We also know that journalism and a free press are under attack by the Trump Administration, by billionaire owners, and by authoritarian regimes around the world. In this context, it is urgent that news organizations demonstrate their commitment to the highest journalistic standards. For the Times, that begins with accountability for past consequential errors.

Demand the Times issue a full retraction, and conduct a full, independent, and public investigation into its editorial process that allowed this “Screams Without Words“ to be published.

Below, you’ll find tools to email and tweet at the NYT editors, as well as more information about the catastrophic editorial process behind “Screams Without Words” — and the devastating consequences.

Email the New York Times Editors

Tweet at the New York Times Editors

“Screams Without Words” was — and remains — a journalistic catastrophe, and demands a full reckoning.

• Jeffrey Gettleman, co-author of the piece, admitted he himself did not “want to even use the word evidence” to describe certain details in the story. 
• The article was co-authored by Anat Schwartz, a filmmaker who had never worked as a journalist ; and Adam Sella, Schwartz’s 24-year-old nephew  whose professional experience was as a food blogger. 
• Key witnesses later recanted or contradicted the Times’ claims, and forensic evidence undermined central allegations
• The article has been questioned by NYT staff, journalism professors, and other mainstream papers.

“Screams Without Words” was repeatedly used to justify Israel’s genocide — and for U.S. political and military support.

• In Biden Administration messaging: In the weeks immediately after the article appeared, Biden, Blinken, and other officials escalated references to sexual violence in public messaging as they defended continued military aid “without conditions.”
• In Congressional testimony: Shortly after the article was released, Congress passed a resolution echoing its conclusions, which directly cited the story as evidence.
• In the mainstream media echo chamber: Major outlets amplified the Times’ unverified claims, creating a narrative that portrayed any criticism of Israel’s military campaign as minimizing sexual violence.

“Screams Without Words” provided a narrative of which Israel took full advantage. The consequences cannot be overstated.

• Over 71,266 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 20,000 children. 
• The Israeli military has killed 953 babies under one year of age. That’s an average of at least one child killed every hour since October 2023.
• The Israeli military has engaged in massive, indiscriminate bombardment of civilians in one of the most devastating bombing campaigns in world history.
• Starting in October 2023, Israel started blocking the entry of sufficient supplies of food, electricity, and fuel, deliberately engineering widespread hunger and malnutrition. In March 2025, Israel tightened its siege even further, imposing a near total blockade.
• The Israeli military has systematically destroyed Gaza’s hospitals, rendering not a single hospital fully functional for 2.3 million people. 
• Palestinian children have had limbs amputated without anesthesia. 
• Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been tortured in Israeli detention, including sexual violence against Palestinian women and children. 
• Medical experts estimate the true death toll, including indirect deaths, may exceed 186,000. 
• Source: IMEU’s Fact Sheet: Two Years of Israel’s Genocide in Gaza

This is the reality that unfolded in the wake of reporting the Times has never properly corrected, retracted, or accounted for.

Take action today, alongside a coalition of organizations including the Palestinian Youth Movement, Palestinian Feminist Collective, the Democratic Socialists of America, the Adalah Justice Project, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, PAL-Awda Right to Return Coalition, National Students for Justice in Palestine, US Palestinian Community Network, and Writers Against the War on Gaza.