Studying Kinocide: Terrorists' Weaponization of Families as a Form of Torture

On September 10 at 10 a.m. EST, the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University hosted a panel discussion titled "Studying Kinocide: Terrorists' Weaponization of Families as a Form of Torture."

Kinocide is a term coined to describe the systematic targeting and destruction of family units, where familial bonds are weaponized as a form of psychological and physical violence. This concept, developed by Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy and her research team in collaboration with Irwin Cotler, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, emerged from their analysis of the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel. These attacks revealed a deliberate strategy by perpetrators to target entire families, signaling a new and deeply disturbing tactic intended to cause maximum suffering and societal disintegration.

This event examined the evolving use of Kinocide as a form of torture in modern terrorism, discussing its implications for international law, human rights advocacy, and counterterrorism policy. The panel explored the psychological, legal, and geopolitical dimensions of this tactic, while assessing the broader impact on affected communities and societies.

The Program on Extremism hosted:

• Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, Israel prize Laureate, Founder and Chair, The Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children.
• Ms. Anila Ali, women’s rights advocate, philanthropist, author, and founder of the American Muslim and Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council (AMMWEC).
• Mr. Mutasim Ali, legal advisor at the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights and the co-author of the independent legal analysis into breaches of the Genocide Convention in Sudan.

The discussion was moderated by Lara Burns, Head of Terrorism Research at the Program on Extremism. Mr. Abid Shamdeen, co-founder of Nadia’s Initiative, was unfortunately unable to join the event.

On September 10, 2025, the Program on Extremism (PoE) at The George Washington University hosted a virtual, high-level panel discussion on kinocide and the use of extra-lethal violence surrounding the October 7th attacks in Israel. The event was moderated by Lara Buns, Head of Terrorism Research at PoE, and featured panelists Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, Ms. Anila Ali, and Mr. Mutasim Ali.

The discussion examined the concept of kinocide, targeted violence against families, as a distinct tactic of terror. The three panelists reflected on the use of sexual violence against men and women, family unit separation, and other abuses during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, expert on international law and feminist theories and professor at Reichman University, spoke about her team’s work documenting sexual violence against women during the October 7 attacks. She explained that Hamas documented its actions in the southern part of Israel, sharing content of the widespread, systemic brutality against women, children, and families. She said that she and her team recognized the need to document all digital materials of sexual violence and victim testimonies in order to preserve the historical truth. She described the emotional difficulty of dealing with such heavy and graphic material, saying that the most difficult part of her work was the exposure to such material and the trauma that it creates; but that she feels the responsibility to bear witness in ways that others cannot in order to create recognition of the unique psychological atrocities that families of loved ones endure. Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy calls denial and the phenomenon of victim disbelief another form of violence, which most likely stems from antisemitic sentiment.

Ms. Anila Ali, civil and women’s rights advocate, stressed the need for empathy and solidarity across communities. She said, “It is our collective duty as women to speak up for one another.” As the leader of a women’s rights organization, she condemned denial narratives that attempted to blame Israel for the violence that occurred on and since October 7, calling it antisemitic and dehumanizing.

Mr. Mutasim Ali, whose research focuses on international human rights and humanitarian law, and transnational justice, situated the kinocide in Israel within other similar ongoing and historical atrocities in Sudan, Afghanistan, Rwanda, and former Yugoslavia. He outlined three recurrent patterns. One, that the atrocities did not begin with the brutal acts themselves, rather with incitements or policies that perpetrators employed for years. Second, the perpetrators document these atrocities themselves, frequently through victims’ social media accounts. He draws a comparison with the situation in Sudan, saying that he thinks the reason why perpetrators share their abuses with the public is because they fear no justice, as they have not seen any thus far. They are often committed by groups and individuals who are backed by complicit actors that have the funds and power to do so. The third pattern of these atrocities is that they disproportionately target the most vulnerable groups: women, children, and the elderly, with the intent to destroy them in part or as a whole. On whether kinocide alters existing genocide framework, Mr. Ali said that it can be either a tactic within a protracted war or a standalone crime against humanity.

The panelists underscored that kinocide is not only devastating to victims and their families, but a challenge to existing legal and normative frameworks, especially through the use of social media. Without recognition and accountability, its replication in the future remains a pressing concern.