Hamas Hostage To UN: I Am Living Proof Of Hamas’s Sexual Violence

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Hamas sexual violence stood at the center of a painful confrontation at UN headquarters, where hostage survivor Ilana Gritzewsky demanded recognition.

At the UN, Gritzewsky faced a human rights representative who, according to the report, still refuses to recognize Hamas’s sexual violence during the October 7 massacre.

However, she did not speak as a report or statistic. She spoke as a survivor.

Proverbs teaches, “Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.” In that spirit, Gritzewsky spoke for herself and for Jewish women whose suffering the world has too often ignored.

Living Proof Of Hamas Sexual Violence

“Your report deals with violence against women. Why is there no mention of Hamas?” Gritzewsky asked.

Then, she described the October 7 attack on her kibbutz.

“On October 7, terrorists broke into our kibbutz. They murdered, kidnapped, burned, touched me, and sexually abused me. The terrorists beat me, hurt me, and held me down until I lost consciousness,” she said.

Gritzewsky continued: “I woke up half-naked, with seven terrorists hovering over me, not knowing what had happened to me in those lost moments.”

Trauma After Captivity

The hostage survivor also described the trauma she still carries after captivity.

“I went through days of pain and terror in captivity,” she said. “Even now, the feeling of helplessness and abuse is still there.”

She added: “I came back with a broken hip, a broken jaw, and a wounded soul.”

According to Gritzewsky, people look at her and think she is free. However, she said freedom does not work that way.

“Freedom is not a switch you turn on and off,” she said. “Trauma does not disappear when they release you.”

In addition, she said every siren and every rocket Iran fires takes her back to that same hell.

A Demand For Recognition

Gritzewsky then turned directly to the UN representative.

“On October 7 and in captivity, Hamas terrorists raped, tortured, and humiliated Jewish women,” she said. “And you, the special rapporteur, chose silence and denial.”

The same battle over truth also appears in Israel’s media war with Hamas. As covered earlier in “IDF: Al Jazeera Photographer Killed Was Hamas Sniper,” the IDF said Ahmed Samir Muhammad Washah worked as an Al Jazeera photojournalist and also served as a Hamas sniper operative.

After that, Gritzewsky addressed Ms. Alsalem directly.

“Ms. Alsalem, you said there was no evidence of sexual violence on October 7,” Gritzewsky said. “I am standing here today, not as a report, not as a statistic. I am living proof of Hamas’s sexual violence.”

Ultimately, Gritzewsky ended with a direct demand.

“I am another Israeli woman who begged not to be raped. Why were you silent? Please look at me. Do you believe us now? Will you apologize?”

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