New Delhi: Amit Soussana, a 40-year-old lawyer, who endured 55 days of captivity by Hamas, has come forward to disclose the alleged sexual abuse she suffered during her ordeal. In a report by The New York Times, Amit became the first Israeli hostage to publicly address the sexual abuse inflicted by her captors.Amit Soussanas traumatic experienceAmit revealed that the abuse began shortly after her capture and continued throughout her captivity. Alongside enduring physical assault, she was subjected to sexual harassment and assault by her captor, identified as Muhammad. Despite being released along with 105 other hostages after 55 days, Amit confessed to the newspaper that the trauma from her ordeal lingers.Harrowing details of harassmentAccording to Amit, Muhammad began harassing her from the moment she arrived at his makeshift jail in Gaza. He would lift her shirt, grope her, and relentlessly question her about her personal life, including her menstrual cycle. Amit recounted one particularly harrowing incident where Muhammad forced her into a sexual act at gunpoint in a childrens bedroom adorned with Spongebob Squarepants decorations.Furthermore, the video of Amit Soussana being taken hostage by Hamas fighter surfaced online. The video shows six men kidnappig her at gunpoint and forcefully took her away.This heartbreaking video shows the kidnapping of a woman named Amit Soussana by six men on October 7th. Today, she has spoken for the first time, revealing that she was sexually assaulted at gunpoint by Palestinian terrorists.Source: New York Timespic.twitter.com/VT9rPXNUeL— 🍉אנדי (@andyayalla) March 27, 2024Ongoing abuse and resistanceEven after the abuse ceased, Amits suffering did not end. She alleges that she was assaulted by multiple guards at various locations, including Hamas tunnels. Despite her resistance, which led to fractures in her eye socket, cheek, knee, and nose, along with severe bruising, the violence persisted.Hamas discredits Soussanas accusationsHamas has attempted to discredit Amits account, challenging the credibility of the United Nations report that confirmed instances of sexual violence against hostages. Spokesman Basem Naim, while denying the allegations, emphasized Hamass commitment to respecting human rights, irrespective of gender, religion, or ethnicity.Around 130 hostages remain in Hamas custodyDespite negotiations, approximately 130 hostages remain in Hamas custody, with ceasefire efforts and release negotiations proving futile. The October 7 terror attacks, which led to Amits abduction, resulted in the death of over 1,200 civilians. The subsequent retaliation by Israel has claimed the lives of 32,000 Palestinians.
