Political commentator Steven “Destiny” Bonnell has publicly criticized Hasan Piker for suggesting that reports of sexual violence during the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel lack credibility due to the absence of prosecutions.
During a recent livestream, Destiny responded forcefully to Piker’s statements that questioned whether mass rapes occurred during the attack. Piker had emphasized that no perpetrators have been prosecuted or convicted for these alleged crimes, suggesting this undermined the credibility of the reports.
“The lack of prosecutions doesn’t mean these crimes didn’t happen,” Destiny argued, pointing out the significant challenges in prosecuting sexual violence even in stable societies. He referenced studies showing that only 1–3% of reported sexual assaults in the United States result in prosecutions.
Destiny blasts Hasan Piker for questioning sexual violence reports from October 7th attack https://t.co/cZ9V9gQXdc pic.twitter.com/Z531hwrmPv
— Spilled (@SpilledGG) May 3, 2025
Destiny further explained that wartime sexual violence cases are notoriously difficult to prosecute due to chaos, displacement, evidence destruction, and the collapse of legal systems. He compared the situation to other conflicts like the Russia–Ukraine war, where formal prosecutions often take years if they happen at all.
The October 7th attack, which saw Hamas militants launch a large-scale assault on Israeli territory, resulted in numerous reports of atrocities, including sexual violence. These allegations have been reported by Israeli and international media, though the exact nature and extent remain debated.
This isn’t the first time the two commentators have gone back and forth, as they have a history of disagreeing over political topics and how they interpret current events. Both have big audiences, and their conversations often start wider discussions across social media platforms.
International organizations, including the UN, have started investigations into the allegations, though such efforts face significant hurdles due to ongoing fighting and the limited ability to gather evidence.
