Green Party Leader's Spin Doctor Appointment Sparks Outrage Over Rape Denial
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has ignited a political firestorm by hiring a spin doctor who has publicly denied that women were raped during the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel. The appointment of Abi Wilkinson, made just days before the party's victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, has drawn fierce condemnation from MPs and advocacy groups, with demands for her immediate dismissal.
Social Media Posts Deny Evidence of Sexual Violence
Wilkinson, 35, posted on social media asserting, 'There is no Israeli woman who’s said she was raped by militants.' In further tweets, she claimed, 'There’s absolutely no new evidence, there is not a single identified victim,' and stated she would not be 'intimidated into pretending non-existent evidence from 7/10 is real.' These comments directly contradict findings from witnesses, Israeli officials, and UN experts, who have unanimously concluded there is 'convincing evidence' of rapes, gang rape, and sexual violence during the attacks that killed over 1,100 people and saw 250 kidnapped.
Labour MPs and Groups Call for Sacking
Labour MP Joani Reid, chair of the all-party parliamentary group against anti-Semitism, labelled Wilkinson's comments as 'repellent,' adding, 'Denying the October 7 atrocities, casting doubt on the rape and murder of women, and recycling anti-Semitic tropes is disgraceful. It insults victims and it fuels fear in Jewish communities here at home.' Reid called on Polanski to sack Wilkinson, arguing that his failure to do so reveals the standards he is willing to accept. Labour MP Natalie Fleet, a rape victim herself, emphasized, 'When political parties who seek power deny what happens to women, it sets us all back. People that refute the testimony of victims shouldn’t be anywhere near British politics.'
Background and Controversial History
Before joining the Greens, Wilkinson worked at the left-wing outlet Novara Media and wrote for The Guardian. Polanski has praised her as a 'prolific writer and fearless advocate for Palestine.' However, her deleted X account contained repeated comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany, including accusing Israel of pursuing 'Lebensraum' and describing Gaza as a 'concentration/extermination camp.' She also shared images of Jewish people with exaggerated facial features, calling them 'demonic.'
Green Party's Broader Anti-Semitism Allegations
This incident is not isolated within the Green Party. Deputy leader Mothin Ali previously described a Leeds rabbi as an 'animal,' and three of the party's 2024 general election candidates shared 'incendiary material' that triggered an internal anti-Semitism investigation. Additionally, party members are pushing for Polanski to declare Zionism as racism, support Palestinian armed resistance, and reject the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism at their spring conference.
Evidence from Victims and Advocacy Groups
The Dinah Project, which represents rape victims of the October 7 attacks, has gathered extensive evidence from social media, testimonies, forensics, and audio-visual sources. They stated, 'Hamas used sexual violence as a tactical weapon,' noting that 'most victims were permanently silenced' due to death or trauma. Hostages also reported being treated as 'sex slaves' after kidnapping. A Green Party spokesman declined to comment on individual staff members, leaving the controversy unresolved amid growing public and political pressure.
