Full Breakdown
Freed Hostage Rom Braslavski Shares October 7 Horrors at Italian Conference
12/8/2025, 10:55:28 AM
Testimony of Trauma and Survival
Rom Braslavski, a 22-year-old Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas, spoke at the Atreju conference in Rome, Italy, hosted by the ruling Fratelli D’Italia party led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Braslavski, who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, while working as a security guard at the Nova music festival, recounted the traumatic events of that day and the brutal conditions he endured during his two-year captivity, which ended on October 5, 2025, as part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal.
During his address, Braslavski vividly described witnessing a massacre, stating, “I saw young, beautiful women thrown onto the ground, riddled with bullets... I saw, in a big garbage can, a great quantity of corpses – women, elderly, children. Covered in blood. Massacred just because they were Israelis, Jews.” He emphasized the psychological torment inflicted upon him by his captors, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, saying, “They abused me mentally, and left me scarred everywhere mentally and physically.”
The Political Context
Braslavski's speech occurred amid a backdrop of rising tensions in Italy regarding the country's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has maintained a pro-Israel position, asserting Israel's right to self-defense despite growing domestic pressure to adopt a more critical view of Israel's actions. This pressure has been exacerbated by a general strike organized by far-left unions, which focused on the government's support for Israel. The Jewish community in Italy has expressed concern over a surge in antisemitic attacks since the onset of the conflict.
Emotional Appeal for Justice
In his remarks, Braslavski implored the audience to continue advocating for justice and peace, a sentiment he held before his abduction. He remarked, “This captivity isn’t fit for animals, certainly not for a human being.” He also highlighted the importance of awareness regarding the plight of hostages, stating, “It is very sad that people around the world don’t understand what this pin means. It’s an Israeli symbol — a symbol of unity, a symbol of equality, but also a symbol of blood, of murder, of pain.”
Official Responses and Reactions
Braslavski received a warm reception from the audience, culminating in an ovation following his speech. Meloni, who has been a vocal supporter of Israel, has faced criticism for her stance, particularly in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Italian government’s position remains contentious, with calls for a more balanced approach to the conflict.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I saw with my own eyes the horrors, I saw one thing – a massacre.” — Rom Braslavski, Freed Hostage
- “This captivity isn’t fit for animals, certainly not for a human being.” — Rom Braslavski, Freed Hostage
- “ He added: “ I went to work as a security guard at a party and look what happened to me, my life was destroyed.” — Rom Braslavski, Freed Hostage
- “It’s a divine miracle ," he said.” — Rom Braslavski, Freed Hostage
Conclusion
Rom Braslavski's testimony at the Atreju conference serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict. His experiences highlight the urgent need for dialogue and understanding in a deeply polarized environment, as well as the importance of addressing the psychological scars left by such traumatic events.
