Amit Soussana speaks to reporters at Kibbutz Kfar Aza
(Video: Reuters)
An Israeli woman who spent 55 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza said that every second of that time felt like an eternity and that she fears for the resilience of the more than 100 remaining hostages abducted on October 7.
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Returning on Monday to the ruins of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, her former home where she was seized by Hamas gunmen during their deadly rampage across southern Israel, Amit Soussana was campaigning in support of the captives alongside some of their relatives.
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Former Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza Amit Soussana
(Photo: REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini)
"I was under an emotional and physical terror the entire 55 days I was held in captivity, feeling like every moment can be my last. Every second felt like eternity," said Soussana, 40, wearing a sweatshirt with the slogan "Bring them home NOW."
She said it was hard to imagine how those still held in Gaza must feel 115 days into their ordeal, with no end in sight.
"I hope that the remaining hostages there are able to keep their faith alive and stay strong. But even the toughest souls can't hold on for such a long time," she said.
Hamas killed some 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 253 on October 7, according to Israel, which responded with a military assault on Gaza that has killed more than 26,600 Palestinians, according to health officials there.
Almost half of the hostages were released by Hamas during a brief truce in November, while Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure another truce that would allow more hostages to be freed.
Monday's public statement by Soussana at Kfar Aza are part of a relentless campaign by families and supporters of the remaining hostages to focus attention on their plight.
CCTV footage of Soussana's abduction, released after she was freed, shows her resisting her seven abductors by kicking and writhing as they try and drag her across a field toward Gaza.
Amit Soussana is turned over by Hamas to the International Red Cross
(Video: Al Jazeera)
At one point, one of the men lifts Soussana off the ground and attempts to carry her over his shoulder, but she kicks and writhes so strongly that the man falls to the ground, whereupon one of the other kidnappers is seen beating her.
"I kept resisting until they eventually tied me up by my arms and legs and dragged me on the ground. It took them over an hour to take me to the border. I was beaten up really badly. My entire face and body were bruised and swollen," she said.
Soussana said that while in Gaza she was moved from location to location, always under guard by heavily armed men from Hamas, given little to eat, supervised even when using the bathroom and subjected to physical and psychological violence.
One of the places where she was held was a dark, damp tunnel 40 meters underground where it was hard to breathe. Being there felt like being buried alive, she said.
"When you're in Hamas captivity, everything is just so fragile. You're constantly on the edge. Things can go drastically wrong every second. You're not allowed to speak, not allowed to cry, not even allowed to comfort each other when times get really bad," she said.