Olivia Flasch

Public international lawyer & writer. MJur 2016 @UniofOxford. Views my own.

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

Today, after more than two years of investigation, The Civil Commission has released its report documenting the sexual atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 and against hostages in captivity. It's the most important, and devastating, project I have ever worked on. Link below

[The Civil Commission @theCC07]

After more than two years of independent investigation, the Civil Commission has released a comprehensive report documenting sexual and gender-based violence committed by Hamas on October 7 and during hostage captivity.

The report is not only a historical record — it is a call for recognition, accountability, and justice.

Please read and share:
https://t.co/3ASO3PWyNF

#October7 #NeverForget #HumanRights #Justice

[Natasha Hausdorff @HausdorffMedia]

It was an honour to chair this @UKLFI Charitable Trust webinar with Dr. @CochavElkayam-Levy and @flasch0 on the groundbreaking report "Silenced No More – Sexual Terror Unveiled: The Untold Atrocities of October 7 and Against Hostages in Captivity".
The report sheds light on the systematic sexual violence carried out across the attack sites on 7th October 2023 and subsequently against the hostages in captivity, emphasised by the scale, repetition and continuation of the sustained abuse.
The report is grounded in a unique war crimes archive, and together the report and archive reveal the full scope of the atrocities while providing an evidentiary and legal foundation for future investigation, prosecution, and prevention. The archive will serve both as a historical record and a source of evidentiary material, with the aim of preserving victims’ stories while supporting legal proceedings seeking justice around the world.
The Civil Commission’s Report on Oct 7th Sexual Violence - Silenced NO More https://t.co/Q5lHIYckbl

[Cochav Elkayam-Levy @CochavElkayam]

All I can say right now is- we did it. We really did it. It was such a difficult journey, but we made it through.
This is, in many ways, a final act of justice for the victims.

They are silenced no more.

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. 🙏❤️

[The Civil Commission @theCC07]

Silenced No More on CNN
Our report continues to make an impact worldwide — featured on CNN.
This is an important moment in the fight for recognition, truth, and accountability.

#October7 #NeverForget #HumanRights #Justice

https://t.co/Qb6Uvz3a1D

[UK Lawyers For Israel @UKLFI]

..@UKLFI Charitable Trust invites you to a webinar on
Silenced No More – Sexual Terror Unveiled: The Untold Atrocities of October 7 and Against Hostages in Captivity with Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy and Olivia Flasch, chaired by Natasha Hausdorff on Wednesday 27 May 2026 Register here: https://t.co/YhKpKYq6Fw

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

Thank you to the Articles of War for publishing my new piece on the application of jus ad bellum during an ongoing international armed conflict. Particularly relevant to the discussion around the legality of the strikes against Iran.

[Articles of War @Articles_of_War]

The relationship between the existence of an IAC and the legality of the UOF remains practically intertwined. Whether/to what extent the continuation of an existing IAC affects the need for a separate JAB analysis remains underexplored, explains @flasch0. https://t.co/rSfY4bmZGX

[Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib @afalkhatib]

Can I only speak next to a ‘Hamasnik’ or an anti-Israel voice? Recently, my team and I communicated with the Middle Eastern Studies department of one of the top, most prestigious schools in the United States, and indeed, the world, to discuss an opportunity for me to come and speak to students about my work, Gaza, Realign For Palestine, Hamas, and hopes for a better future. The professor and head of the department were upfront in how terrified they were about the prospect of receiving backlash; they were highly concerned with how I was “perceived” by average “pro-Palestine” students and communities, and said they could face immense backlash for having me on their campus.

Despite the individual's personal appreciation for my voice and perspective, they described the terror and fear they live under, thanks to the incitement, insanity, borderline violent activism, and pro-terror sentiments that some students and faculty express. The only way, they said, to have their Ivy League university allow me to speak was to do so next to a “mainstream,” “average,” and “acceptable” Palestinian and “pro-Palestine” voice.

Enraged, I asked how has academia declined so much that an independent pro-Palestine, pro-peace, anti-Hamas, anti-violence, anti-military occupation voice such as mine from Gaza is somehow viewed as “controversial” while literal Hamas enthusiasts and anti-America, anti-West, pro-terror students and faculty are somehow considered the “mainstream” of Palestinian communities and societies in the United States? How could it be that a university that helped pioneer technologies, nuclear physics, applied sciences, and modern-day advancements is held hostage by radical, pro-October 7, pro-extremist views?

I further inquired directly to this professor how they rationalize intentionally helping to platform such destructive views, which they knew were directly harmful to them, the discourse on Israel and Palestine, and against creating solutions for the future. How could such intelligent people, with skin in the game, be willing to contort themselves to the mob politics? How could someone with this stature continue to consent to participating in the platforming of violent rhetoric and divisive narrative over, or even instead of, perspectives like mine offering pragmatism, engagement, and solutions?

The sad truth is that mob politics, aggressive ‘activism’, and dogmatic professors define today’s universities. This is the state of academia today; this is what Ivy Leagues are producing: hordes of students who are bullies, unable to think critically or clearly, and a student life that caters to the most offensive and anti-freedom, anti-intellectual notions of the modern era.

I should not and will not be forced to speak alongside other “pro-Palestine” voices, who openly are the antithesis of the values and principles of non-violence, pragmatism, and centering Gazan voices and experiences. I will oppose every attempt to make my appearance somehow ‘more acceptable’ to elite universities in the West by tainting my pro-peace message or acquiescing to self-righteous teens and misinformed faculty. It's a shame that taxpayer dollars continue to fund the indoctrination of the next generation of supposed “leaders” who are going to limit academic freedoms and progress through censorship and their mob-like behavior.

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

My latest on Substack: https://t.co/O9QpaOryHM

[Elica Le Bon الیکا‌ ل بن @elicalebon]

Let me tell you why I decided that yesterday's appearance on Piers Morgan, alongside Dave Smith, would be my last.

First, I had spent the past couple of months being so emotionally exhausted and above that, genuinely devastated by Dave Smith's online rhetoric. It's hard to describe how much his words have hurt me, alongside millions of Iranians, and millions of Jews and Middle Eastern people. He repeatedly downplayed the brutality and threat of the Islamic regime in Iran, insisting over and over again "Iran (the regime) is not the threat, the U.S. government is the threat."

The overwhelming majority of 90 million Iranians know this line very well. It is the same propaganda of "anti-western imperialism," used as a red herring, that convinced them to take to the streets in '79 and bring in the Ayatollahs. Following that mistake, they realized this line, this rhetoric, this propaganda was complicit in one of the biggest heists of our time.

For the past 45 years, Iranian intellectuals--both inside and outside of Iran--have exhausted themselves to try and demonstrate to the world how this type of commentary is not just a red herring, but it leads to the collapse of society, as it did for us. Imagine how exhausting and painful it is to try and explain the contours of this to the world, only to have people who discovered the Middle East yesterday insist we don't understand it.

After October 7, not just Dave Smith, but many westerners who had no familiarity with the reality of this type of propaganda were thrust to the spotlight by regurgitating these same appealing lines, having no idea who manufactured this rhetoric and to what end.

Societies who have been touched by the finger of death, be it under socialist utopias or jihadist domination--Iranians, Israelis/Jews, Venezuelans, Cubans, Yemenis, Afghans, Syrians, Iraqis, Lebanese, Russians, Chinese, even many Gazans, and more--understand where these talking points begin and end.

That considered, what the post-October 7th discourse has revealed is that much of the untouched western world has become so indoctrinated by the disinformation of these bad actors--who they can't even begin to understand the inner workings of--that conversations become futile. These conversations become more about "winning" to those whose only investment is being right, which inevitably means losing for those whose investment is survival.

So when Piers' team reached out to me to join the conversation, I'll admit that I did actually ask to debate Dave Smith. The thing is, though, a part of me inside was screaming, "don't."

Don't do it. This man is not here to listen to you, he is here to talk over you. He is not here to understand Iran, and the sentiments of millions of Iranians who do not support his advocacy for "diplomacy deals" that have proved fatal to them (quite literally, by enriching the machinery used to massacre them), but to insist that his out-of-touch perspective of Iran, without knowing an iota of the long history that brought us here from the Iranian perspective, is truth.

The whole "anti-war" line has been used by the regime's lobbyists for decades, the same one Dave Smith insists on now. Even court documents revealed correspondence between the regime and its U.S. based lobbyists in pushing this co-ordinated propaganda effort--which they admitted to intentionally aiming at naive western anti-war activists as their "easiest targets"--to induce diplomacy deals that line their coffers with hundreds of billions. The only true anti-war perspective is the one of millions of Iranians who have for decades asked not to platform this regime to the point of an inevitable military confrontation. But how could outsiders who aren't listening know this?

I'll be honest, as soon as that conversation began, I was already defeated. As soon as the opening line was Pies reciting how much I think Dave Smith's talking points are garbage (I do, but that's obviously not how you start a fruitful conversation, that's how you egg on a cat fight) I knew I made the wrong decision.

I knew I would be taunted, pushed, and agitated, not just because I have to contend with somebody who possesses an illicit amount of confidence and arrogance despite standing on the outside of our collective sentiment, but because the conversation was clearly never intended to bring him, nor the world, closer to truth. This is why you should always listen to your gut instinct, and I'm disappointed in myself that I failed my instinct on this occasion.

At this point, coming closer to the truth will not happen through debates. Why? because it isn't facts people don't have, its context. Underneath the thin layer of easily accessible facts, there exists oceans of context that escape people who have never swam in our waters.

Dave Smith well never, not for as long as he lives, know how much he has hurt us. These conversations will never bring the world closer to truth.

Truth will come to light, as it always does, but it will happen not by attacking the darkness, but through shining the light. Eventually, enough people will shine the light of truth until every corner of darkness is dispelled.

So even though I won't be engaging in these reality TV style debates, I will continue speaking where people are interested in listening, and that have a chance of moving the needle closer to truth. Until then, we may continue to face the abuse, attacks, hate, and ostracization from the masses lingering in the dark, but in the words of Ricky Gervais, "your boos mean nothing, I've seen what makes you cheer."

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

The Israeli government is today confirming what I argued months ago: that Israel and Iran are engaged in an international armed conflict with one another and that the conduct should be considered under jus in bello. https://t.co/bg03Ng1hCG

[Dr. Gilad Noam ד"ר גיל-עד נועם @DrGiladNoam]

Following the launch of Operation Rising Lion in the early morning of Friday, 13 June 2025, Israel submitted yesterday a letter to the Security Council.
The letter’s bottom line: Operation Rising Lion was launched as part of the ongoing armed conflict between the IRI and Israel, in light of the existential and imminent threat from Iran's nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs. The operation is in strict compliance with international law.

Read below for more detail:

- Iran has engaged in an armed conflict with Israel for years, directly as well as indirectly, through various proxies in the middle east. One recent peak of this ongoing armed conflict was marked by Iran’s missiles and UAV attacks on Israel during April and October of 2024, historically unprecedented in their scope. Accordingly, Israel’s actions should be assessed in light of the law of armed conflict.

- As part of this ongoing conflict Israel was faced with an existential and imminent threat, a threat Iran expressed the intention, and sought the capabilities, to realize. Israel had no choice but to act now, in the last window of opportunity. Operation Rising Lion was launched as a last resort, after diplomatic channels were exhausted and proved inadequate.

- Israel’s actions are necessary and proportionate, in line with the laws of armed conflict. Isreal’s strikes during operation Rising Lion are carried out against military objectives, such as: Iranian nuclear facilities that constitute part of the Iranian nuclear weapon program, Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, military assets, senior military commanders, as well as other individuals who directly participate in hostilities against Israel. Israel takes measures to mitigate civilian harm to the extent feasible, and avoid attacks that are expected to cause excessive collateral damage in relation to the military advantage anticipated.

- The IRI has launched since 13 June 2025 hundreds upon hundreds of missiles and UAVs, while deliberately targeting Israeli civilian population centres - in violation of the law of armed conflict.

I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives as a result of Iran's attacks. May their memory be a blessing. I also wish a speedy recovery to all those injured in the missile attacks.

We never forget that 53 hostages remain captive in Hamas hands. Israel will do everything in its power to bring them home.
@Israel @IsraelMFA #IHL #Israel

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

On 28 February, I will be participating, alongside leading experts, in a series of panel discussions on the topic of Diversification of Civilian Agency in Armed Conflict organised by the @WarStudiesNLDA. For registration and details, see agenda below.

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

Very pleased to have been quoted in this recently issued @Policy_Exchange publication authored by Lord Verdirame KC and Richard Ekins KC, on State or Diplomatic Immunity and the Limits of International Criminal Law. The paper is available here: https://t.co/sfwkvZkNTk

[Israel Defense Forces @IDF]

They’re home. 💛

[Articles of War @Articles_of_War]

While much of the coverage of the #MiddleEast centers on #Israel’s conflict with #nonstateactors, @flasch0 argues that a full-scale conflict between #Iran/Israel has likely already begun. Exploring Iran's role through the lens of #jusinbello is crucial. https://t.co/HAfgQonp1g

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

My latest piece in EJIL Talk! on the ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant https://t.co/kUu7Cwm9G4

[Dr. Gilad Noam ד"ר גיל-עד נועם @DrGiladNoam]

Last night's attacks on Israelis in Amsterdam are, in part, a product of the international community's toleration of false narratives that delegitimize Israel.

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

I have felt the support, kindness and love this year for the Jewish community from the most unlikely places. That is what keeps me going. That and the knowledge of the impenetrable strength and resilience of Israelis and diaspora Jews. I am so proud to be part of this community.

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

It has been one year. One year since that dark Saturday of unimaginable cruelty. I wrote back then, in the immediate aftermath, that the world felt upside down. It still does.

[Olivia Flasch @flasch0]

The young people we keep losing. I never knew I could feel such immense sadness thinking about people I do not know. But perhaps that is exactly it – from the pain and darkness comes a sense of unity and connection, amongst Jewish people but also with others.