Full Breakdown
Harrowing Accounts of Sexual Assault from Freed Israeli Hostage Romi Gonen
1/6/2026, 7:09:31 AM
Captivity and Abuse: Romi Gonen's Experience
Romi Gonen, a 25-year-old former Israeli hostage, has publicly shared her traumatic experiences during her 471 days of captivity under Hamas. Gonen was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and was one of the first hostages released as part of a ceasefire deal in January 2025. In a two-part interview on Israel’s Channel 12 program Uvda, she detailed the repeated sexual assaults, harassment, and intimidation she faced while held captive.
Gonen recounted that her first assault occurred just days after her abduction when a supposed medic exploited her vulnerability while treating a gunshot wound to her arm. “He was a ‘nurse’ so he allowed himself to ‘help me.’ I was wounded, powerless, and couldn’t do anything,” she stated. Over the course of her captivity, she faced continuous harassment from two captors, identified as Ibrahim and Mohammed, who threatened and intimidated her, creating a pervasive atmosphere of fear.
Systematic Sexual Violence: A Broader Context
Gonen's experiences are not isolated. A July 2025 report by the Dinah Project documented similar accounts from 15 individuals, including 13 women and two men, highlighting a pattern of sexual violence used as a weapon of war by Hamas during captivity. The report indicated that sexual violence was employed systematically and tactically, with the intent to humiliate and control hostages.
In November 2025, Rom Braslavski became the first male hostage to publicly speak about his sexual abuse while held captive, describing horrific and humiliating experiences. Additionally, a 2024 report by the UN’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, found evidence suggesting that sexual violence, including rape, occurred during the October 7 attacks.
Manipulation and Threats from Hamas Commanders
During her captivity, Gonen was subjected to manipulation by senior Hamas commanders. At one point, they led her through tunnels to make a phone call, during which she was promised a place at the top of the release list in exchange for her silence about the abuses she endured. Gonen identified the man on the phone as Izz a Din al-Haddad, a significant figure within Hamas. “They often silenced my story and told me not to tell it,” she remarked, emphasizing her determination to speak out.
Official Responses and Ongoing Struggles
Despite the increasing number of testimonies from survivors, Hamas has continuously denied the allegations of sexual abuse. Survivors like Gonen face ongoing struggles as they cope with the profound effects of their traumatic experiences. Gonen continues to advocate for justice and awareness regarding the abuse experienced by hostages, determined to ensure that her story and those of others are heard.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Only when you’re in this situation can you grasp what happens to the body. And fear – it sometimes paralyzes,” — Romi Gonen, Former Hostage
- “and he was having the time of his life, ecstatic, as if he had received the gift of a lifetime.” — Romi Gonen, Former Hostage
- “some kind of deal. ‘I will put you at the top of the release list, and in return, you will promise me that you will keep quiet.” — Izz a Din al-Haddad, Hamas Leader
- “They often silenced my story and told me not to tell it. Now I am here, sitting in front of the camera, and honestly, no one will silence me anymore. It happened to me, and it was terrible, and I deal with the consequences every day, but I am here. I beat it. I am in the aftermath, and I am much stronger than it,” — Romi Gonen, Former Hostage
Gonen's testimony sheds light on the harrowing realities faced by hostages in Gaza and underscores the urgent need for addressing these human rights violations.
