Amit Soussana, a released hostage from the October 7 attack by Hamas, revealed harrowing details of sexual violence and abuse she endured during her captivity in Gaza. In an extensive interview with The New York Times, she described being held in a child’s bedroom with a chain on her ankle, where her captor, a Hamas guard named Muhammad, routinely groped her and subjected her to repeat sexual assaults at gunpoint. Despite her resistance, Soussana was forced to comply with his demands. She also recounted similar abuse by another captor named Amir after being transferred to a different location.
The interview sheds light on the horrific experiences endured by hostages and highlights the ongoing plight of women still held captive by Hamas. Hamas spokesperson Basem Naim denied the allegations, casting doubt on Soussana’s account and sparking controversy over the organization’s treatment of hostages. President Isaac Herzog condemned Hamas’s actions and called for global condemnation and the immediate release of all hostages.
