Former Hostage Details Sexual Assault by Hamas in Gaza

Ilana Gritzewsky, a former hostage released from Hamas captivity, detailed her traumatic experiences during an interview with The New York Times. Abducted during the October 7 attacks, she recalled waking up half-naked in Gaza surrounded by gunmen after being subjected to sexual assault, including groping and burns from an exhaust pipe. Gritzewsky, who initially fled with her boyfriend Matan Zangauker, now still held hostage, described her captors' threats and their attempts to control her. She believed that claiming she was menstruating might have prevented further harm. Following her release on November 30, 2023, she discovered she had suffered a broken hip, and both she and Zangauker's mother have since become advocates for the return of remaining hostages. Gritzewsky's account has raised awareness about the sexual violence faced by women during such conflicts.