In a recent interview with the New York Times, Amit Soussana, a 40-year-old Israeli hostage, bravely shared her harrowing experience of sexual assault at gunpoint by one of the Palestinian militants who held her captive in Gaza. Soussana was abducted on October 7 from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and security camera footage captured her fierce resistance against her abductors.
According to Soussana, the assault occurred around October 24 when the militant guarding her, who identified himself as Muhammad, threatened her with a gun, beat her, and forced her into a child’s bedroom where she was coerced into performing a sexual act. The details of the assault were corroborated by reports from two doctors and a social worker, shortly after Soussana’s release on November 30 during a week-long truce.
The New York Times, while respecting the sensitivity of the matter, refrained from disclosing specific details of the sexual act as per Soussana’s request. Soussana’s account adds to at least three other released hostages who have publicly spoken about incidents of sexual abuse inflicted upon fellow captives.
In a disturbing revelation, a team of United Nations experts, led by U.N. special envoy for sexual violence in conflict Pramila Patten, reported “reasonable grounds to believe” that sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, occurred at multiple locations during the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants.
The UN team conducted a thorough investigation during their visit to Israel between January 29 and February 14, aimed at gathering, analyzing, and verifying information on sexual violence linked to the October 7 attacks. Their findings also revealed compelling evidence that some hostages taken to Gaza were subjected to sexual violence.
Hamas, however, has vehemently denied allegations of sexual violence during and after the October 7 attack, despite mounting evidence and testimonies from survivors. The revelations of sexual assault amidst the already horrific ordeal of being held hostage underscore the urgent need for accountability and justice for the victims.
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