Former Hamas Hostages Detail Sexual Assault in 18-Month Gaza Captivity
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 14
Former Hamas Hostages Detail Sexual Assault in 18-Month Gaza Captivity
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 14
Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, said a Hamas guard sexually assaulted him twice after nearly 18 months in captivity, threatening to kill him if he told anyone.
Several former hostages have now gone public with similar allegations, including Amit Soussana and Romi Gonen, who described rape, coercion and efforts by captors to keep the abuse hidden.
Gilboa-Dalal, seized at the Nova festival on Oct. 7, 2023, said the assaults were the worst part of two years marked by isolation, starvation and beatings, and that speaking now is part of his recovery.
Hamas denies its militants committed sexual crimes, while some in Israel accuse U.N. observers and rights groups of downplaying the allegations.
The accounts add to claims by the Dinah Project that Hamas used sexual violence as a weapon of war, though advocates say prosecutions in such cases are rare and many survivors remain too traumatized to testify.
With sexual violence alleged on both sides, is impartial justice for victims now an impossible goal?
As dueling atrocity reports emerge, how can the world separate credible evidence from wartime propaganda?
Sexual Violence in the October 7 Hamas Attacks: Documentation, Survivor Trauma, and the Path to Justice
Overview
Recent reports, including the 'Silenced No More' report published by Israel, have revealed widespread sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas during the October 7 attacks and in the treatment of hostages. Israel has highlighted these findings to emphasize the brutality of Hamas and to justify its wartime objectives in Gaza. However, the recognition and documentation of these crimes are deeply affected by the ongoing conflict and political tensions, making it challenging to achieve universal acknowledgment. This complex environment shapes both the global response and the pursuit of justice for victims.