NYT: Israeli Hostage Says She Was Sexually Assaulted and Tortured in Gaza

Facts

• Earlier this week, the New York Times released a report detailing freed Israeli hostage Amit Soussana's account of facing sexual assault and torture at the hands of her Hamas captors, the first such account since Oct. 7. Soussana, a lawyer from Kibbutz Kafr Azza, described being violently kidnapped from her home, held hostage in Gaza, and the sexual violence she experienced.¹
• She said that, while being held in Gaza, her captor repeatedly asked her about her period, before eventually forcing her at gunpoint to commit sexual acts on him. She also described being beaten on multiple occasions, leading to injuries that have been treated by Israeli doctors.¹
• The Times also spoke with the medical professionals who interviewed the Israeli lawyer immediately after her release in late November, corroborating her story. Soussana further recounted being moved between different safe houses, shedding possible light on how Hamas has managed to hold on to hostages during six months of intense fighting.¹
• Earlier this month, the UN released a report indicating that militants likely committed acts of sexual violence during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into Israel and hostages faced sexual abuse while in captivity. Hamas officials have repeatedly denied that its fighters have committed sexual violence.²
• The report also said, however, that some allegations of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attack — such as claims of genital mutilation and the murder of a pregnant woman — seem to have been false or exaggerated.³
• The Times has previously faced controversy over its coverage of the war in Gaza, with critics saying that a previous report released by the outlet on sexual violence on Oct. 7 was erroneous and relied on methods considered journalistic malpractice.⁴

Sources: ¹New York Times, ²CNN, ³Jerusalem Post and ⁴Intercept.

Narratives

• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. After months of denial, the truth about Hamas' horrific sexual crimes continues to be revealed. Amit Soussana's strength and courage is truly remarkable, as she has been forced to victimize herself a second time so that the world understands the righteousness of Israel's existential struggle against terror. Israel simply wants to exist in peace, but this can never be achieved as long Palestinian terrorists bent on destroying the nation continue to torment its citizens. Israel has no choice but to continue its valiant fight in this war that it never wanted.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Intercept. Any acts of sexual violence committed by individual fighters are reprehensible and must be condemned. However, no act of violence justifies Israel's devastating reaction. Israel has created a man-made famine in Gaza, and the situation has gotten to a point in which Palestinians can barely survive. Massacring Palestinians will never bring back those killed and brutalized on Oct. 7, and the only positive way to resolve this situation is a comprehensive political agreement that ends the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Predictions