Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Released hostage Amit Soussana reveals she was sexually assaulted by Hamas captor
Times of Israel ^ | 5/26/24 | TOI Staff

Posted on 03/26/2024 7:17:56 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie

Released hostage Amit Soussana, 40, was sexually assaulted and attacked by her Hamas guard during her captivity in Gaza, she told The New York Times in an interview published Tuesday, marking the first time a freed hostage has spoken publicly about experiencing sexual abuse.

Soussana, who was released from captivity on the last day of a weeklong truce in late November, recounted to the newspaper how she was held alone, chained up in a child’s bedroom in darkness where she was forced to commit sexual acts for her Hamas captor, who she said went by the name Muhammad.

Sometime around October 24, he attacked her while she was briefly unchained in order to use the bathroom, she recounted.

“He came towards me and shoved the gun at my forehead,” Soussana said. “He sat me on the edge of the bath. And I closed my legs. And I resisted. And he kept punching me and put his gun in my face,” Soussana stated. “Then he dragged me to the bedroom.”

She recounted being forced to remove her towel while Muhammad groped her, before being marched at gunpoint back to the bedroom, where he forced her to “commit a sexual act on him.”

The Times added that Soussana’s account of what happened is consistent with reports viewed by the newspaper that she gave to medical professionals and a social worker immediately following her release.

Dr. Julia Barda, the social worker who spoke to Soussana upon her release, told the newspaper that the freed hostage “spoke immediately, fluently and in detail, not only about her sexual assault, but also about the many other ordeals she experienced.”

Her account is the first time that a released hostage has publicly spoken about being sexually assaulted by Hamas terrorists while in captivity.

Soussana said that in the lead-up to the assault, her guard asked personal questions, including questioning her about her sex life, and asking when her period was due. When it ended around October 18 after only a day, she said she tried to delay him by lying that it continued for nearly a week.

“Every day, he would ask: ‘Did you get your period? Did you get your period? When you get your period, when it will be over, you will wash, you will take a shower and you will wash your clothes,'” she recounted him saying to her in captivity.

The freed hostage also said he would visit her in the room, lift her shirt, and touch her.

After he sexually assaulted her, Soussana said the guard told her, “I’m bad, I’m bad, please don’t tell Israel,” as if to show remorse. She rejected initial offers of food, but eventually relented in order to appease her abusive captor.

“You can’t stand looking at him — but you have to: He’s the one who’s protecting you, he’s your guard,” Soussana stated. “You’re there with him and you know that every moment it can happen again. You’re completely dependent on him.”

Soussana also described how she was tortured a few days after being moved to a different apartment bloc, where she was handed over to a man called Amir, and was held with four other hostages.

Soussana said her head was wrapped in a pink shirt by guards, then forced to sit on the floor where guards pummeled her with the butt of a gun. Then, her hands were tied and hung up “like a chicken” from a stick linking two couches, causing immense pain.

Soussana said the guards continued to beat her, focusing on the soles of her feet while interrogating her for information they thought she was hiding. She stated the chief guard pretended to poke her with a spike, pulling away right before it hit her eye.

“It was like that for 45 minutes or so,” she recounted. “They were hitting me and laughing and kicking me, and called the other hostages to see me.” One of the other hostages became so frightened after a guard threatened to kill Soussana if she didn’t provide information, that she asked Soussana if she had any final messages for her family.

Earlier this month, the United Nations published a report indicating that rape and gang rape likely occurred during the October 7 Hamas terror onslaught, and said that there is “clear and convincing” evidence showing that hostages were raped while being held in Gaza, and that those currently held captive are still facing such abuse.

Soussana spoke to the UN investigator who issued the report during her visit to Israel in late January.

President Isaac Herzog praised Soussana for her testimony, stating that she “speaks for all those who cannot speak,” in a post on X.

“She speaks for all the victims of Hamas’s despicable sexual crimes and abuse. She speaks for all women everywhere. The whole world has the moral duty to stand with Amit — and all the victims — in condemning Hamas’s brutal terror, and in demanding the immediate return of all the hostages,” he wrote.

IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Tuesday evening that Soussana’s interview was “very important and brave.”

“Amit’s courage, and her choice to share this difficult testimony with the world, is worthy of deep appreciation,” said Hagari. “Amit is a true hero. Her testimony is another reminder of the obligation of the IDF and the security services to work in every manner to bring home all the 134 hostages home.”

Basem Naim, a spokesperson for Hamas, sent a 1,300-word response to the Times stating that it was impossible to investigate Soussana’s testimony under “the current circumstances,” while expressing skepticism over the account.

Naim said it was “difficult to believe the story unless it was designed by some security officers,” questioning why Soussana had only come forward months after her release.

Amit was kidnapped from Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim targeted on October 7 when Hamas-led terrorists burst across the Gaza border and murdered close to 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 253 hostages.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Gaza; Hamas; Israel; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: gangrape; hamas; october7; rape
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

More pictures of the abduction, etc. At the source.

1 posted on 03/26/2024 7:17:56 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

Greasy subhuman scum, those Hammie boys are.


2 posted on 03/26/2024 7:19:36 PM PDT by kiryandil (what Odessa doink?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie
Basem Naim, a spokesperson for Hamas, sent a 1,300-word response to the Times stating that it was impossible to investigate Soussana’s testimony under “the current circumstances,” while expressing skepticism over the account.

It would be pleasant to hear that the IDF or Mossad rubbed this one out.

3 posted on 03/26/2024 7:23:10 PM PDT by kiryandil (what Odessa doink?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

Nuke’em.


4 posted on 03/26/2024 7:25:05 PM PDT by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie
Separately:

Hostage Uriel Baruch murdered by Hamas, his body held in Gaza, his family reveals

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hostage-uriel-baruch-murdered-by-hamas-his-body-held-in-gaza-his-family-reveals/

5 posted on 03/26/2024 7:25:06 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (DEI = Didn't Earn It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

Biden and the UN calls for a ceasefire so this can continue. After all, it’s not their family members.


6 posted on 03/26/2024 7:29:11 PM PDT by BipolarBob (I'm looking for a blessing that is NOT in disguise.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

Hamas are Genocidal maniacs and need to be called out as such..


7 posted on 03/26/2024 7:30:02 PM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

Obviously she is mistaken.
Obviously it’s the Zionists fault.
Obviously she should be very happy that Hamas raped her repeatedly.
Sarcasm


8 posted on 03/26/2024 7:31:48 PM PDT by South Dakota (Patriotism is the new terrorism .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kiryandil
Video of her abduction, here:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1731750802799145416

9 posted on 03/26/2024 7:36:41 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (DEI = Didn't Earn It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ealgeone

IMHO civilians don’t exist in Gaza except for the hostages.

The people in Gaza are almost all Hamas supporters. Aka sub-humans.

Go in hard.

Get your people out. Then nuke from orbit. Only way to be sure.


10 posted on 03/26/2024 7:36:42 PM PDT by piytar (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

Lay hands on my women and children, and all y’all are gonna die.


11 posted on 03/26/2024 7:39:27 PM PDT by kiryandil (what Odessa doink?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

More and different detail in the Israel National News story about her here:

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/387407


12 posted on 03/26/2024 7:39:38 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (DEI = Didn't Earn It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

But, some FReepers say the 800,000+ Hamas children are being tortured and threatened with temporarily living in a camp in the desert of Israel or Egypt, while Israel wants to deeply review the Gaza Strip.

Israel is so evil, they say, and anyone supporting Israel’s move of population to such a camp is, and I quote, “soulmates” of “Hitler.”


13 posted on 03/26/2024 7:42:50 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

“Some Freepers” consistently find themselves on the same side as ISIS and AOC.

Ought to make them review their position.


14 posted on 03/26/2024 7:45:02 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (DEI = Didn't Earn It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

Democrat Congressman Jamal Bowman called her a liar.


15 posted on 03/26/2024 7:52:28 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Sometimes There Is No Lesser Of Two Evils)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

AOC and the crew are fine with these rapes.


16 posted on 03/26/2024 8:00:19 PM PDT by bray (You can tell who the Commies fear.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

I’ll take Hamas seriously when Israel’s Deep State does.


17 posted on 03/26/2024 8:01:46 PM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: MeanWestTexan

“Squad” Rep. Jamaal Bowman called Israel an “apartheid” state as he angrily claimed reported rapes and child murders during Hamas’ October terror attacks were a “lie,” recently resurfaced video shows.

https://nypost.com/2024/03/26/us-news/squad-member-jamaal-bowman-calls-israel-an-apartheid-state-reported-rapes-were-a-lie-video/?sp_amp_linker=1*1eyo3v*amp_id*V2haNDJvSkJXWkV6TEZqSjlkbW5XS05UY2I5MS1aazh3dG0yMWMtSjFVYk5nbERIQkNWMmQwVFZsbTd4YlpTdA..&_gl=1*14qdzxw*_ga*YW1wLWpWVWY5dGs0cmlyY2M0aS1ma0tNb1VRenF5bnpienYyWjl0UnZFdFN4Q3plU2JkdDlSWEl4QTBIc1RkZ2ZFd3o.*_ga_0DZ7LHF5PZ*MTcxMTUwODYxOC4xLjEuMTcxMTUwODYxOS4wLjAuMA..


18 posted on 03/26/2024 8:05:59 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (DEI = Didn't Earn It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla

Would you care to elucidate?


19 posted on 03/26/2024 8:06:58 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (DEI = Didn't Earn It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Miltie

I was quite clear.


20 posted on 03/26/2024 8:10:34 PM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson