Warning: The following article contains graphic and harrowing accounts from the October 7 massacre in Israel.
"My existence, once tranquil and marked by routine, was irrevocably altered when I was seized by this merciless terror faction," Amit Soussana, the first Israeli woman to publicly recount her painful experiences with sexual violence during her harrowing 55-day captivity in Gaza, declared before the United Nations (U.N.) on Wednesday. Her testimony coincided with the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the mandate on sexual violence in conflicts.
Reflecting on her life prior to the horrific attack, Soussana recounted, "I thrived as an attorney in a beloved firm, dwelling in a cozy home within my kibbutz. My most pressing dilemma mirrored that of many: what to whip up for dinner?” Emphasizing her desire for privacy, she expressed, "I nurtured a deliberate distance from social media, valuing my solitude and confidentiality.”
On October 7, under cover of a peaceful Simchat Torah morning, her life descended into chaos. "The serenity shattered with the launch of countless missiles from Gaza, soon followed by the jarring rattle of gunfire," she recalled. Sequestered in her safe room, fear surged through her veins until a hand grenade detonated in her living space. "Heavily armed men clad in civilian garb invaded my home," she narrated, capturing the essence of her profound shock and helplessness.
Barefoot and still in her pajamas, she remembered the despair of her abduction, hastily draping a blanket around her as she was dragged from her burning sanctuary toward Gaza. The path was lined with violence, her body enduring brutal beatings along the way.
"It felt as if they reveled in my suffering," Soussana reflected. In a relentless fight for her dignity, she conjured a fierce spirit: "More than I feared for my life, I feared for my body and soul. I refused to surrender." Yet, her resistance bore a heavy toll, leaving her with a shattered eye socket and a knee injury that still haunts her.
Chained and immobilized, her captivity descended into a nightmare. "I had to beg for basic bodily functions," she recounted, bringing grave attention to the violation she endured at the hands of her captor. Describing the assault, she said, "He targeted me in the shower, gun in hand, his gaze monstrous and predatory." As he questioned her while barely clothed, she was gripped by a terror so profound that it rendered her powerless against his intentions.
Soussana articulated the internal turmoil that followed the assault: "Tears were a luxury I wasn’t afforded; mourning was forbidden. I had to feign kindness toward the predator who had ravaged me." Daily, she replayed that horrific episode, yet, amidst the trauma, she clung to a sliver of hope: "Now, I cherish my freedom, reminding myself he can no longer inflict pain upon me."
But her ordeal did not end there; new guards ushered in fresh horrors. "Even in my dread, I felt a flicker of gratitude—at least I was separated from that violator," she said. Still, she endured systematic torture: being turned upside down, beaten, humiliated, and gripped by the fear of impending death. The depths of her suffering deepened when she was confined within a suffocating underground tunnel, rendering her existence akin to being buried alive.
After 55 grueling days and unimaginable deprivation, Soussana regained her freedom; yet, the sense of liberation was overshadowed by sorrow for those still ensnared in the clutches of torment. "I cannot relish my freedom while others languish in similar anguish," she declared, underscoring the promise she and other hostages had made to advocate for one another’s release. "Today, I honor that vow by recounting my narrative."
Concluding her poignant testimony, she delivered an urgent appeal to the U.N.: "I implore you—act swiftly to secure the release of the hostages who remain captive. Each passing day diminishes their spirit and jeopardizes their existence." Emphasizing the global responsibility to confront such atrocities, she charged the U.N. to uphold human rights and pursue justice against those perpetrating these heinous acts. “The world watches, eager for the U.N. Security Council to fulfill its obligations. Please—do not let us down. Ensure the liberation of the hostages and shield future innocents from suffering this fate. Now is the critical moment for action."
At this vital gathering, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, affirmed, "Our pursuit will not cease until all 101 of our hostages are returned from Hamas." Expressing gratitude toward Soussana for her remarkable courage, he stated, "Your bravery sheds light on the true face of Hamas, a terrorist entity we must eradicate."
In a report released months after the attack, the U.N. acknowledged that grave acts of sexual violence had transpired during the October 7 invasion, offering "clear and convincing" evidence that hostages were subjected to rape while held in captivity—a grim reality that continues for many still entrapped.
Among the 101 remaining hostages, innocent women and children suffer in silence, each moment steeped in fear and uncertainty.
