Ariane Ménage / Photo credits: AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP
Four months after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, Israeli families are still campaigning for their loved ones to be released as quickly as possible, particularly women, because new testimonies reveal unspeakable sexual abuse.
96 days after the Hamas attack in Israel, the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken estimated that the death toll in Gaza is “far too high”. According to the Israeli army, 136 people are still in the hands of Hamas. Their families are increasing calls for a new release agreement with particular concern for the women hostages in Gaza, as new testimonies reveal unspeakable sexual abuse.
“They tortured her next to me”
Released after 51 days of captivity, Aviva Sigal recounts attacks on young women and abuse. She testifies before a committee of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. “In another case, a girl came and they thought she was an officer in the army. They tortured her next to me. Next to me, I saw her. I witnessed what is happening there,” she said.
“Some may be pregnant”
The day before, still in Parliament, in front of elected officials whose brother who is in Gaza wanted to talk about the elephant in the room, in his words. “What happened? What is happening to these women over there? We already understand that some are perhaps pregnant. We understand that the time, I don’t even want to say it, but yes, the truth is that now it is still possible to carry out abortions. Afterwards, it will no longer be possible,” he warns.
“We no longer have time,” implore the families of the hostages who, as the weeks go by, struggle to maintain hope of finding their loved ones alive. The United States Secretary of State is scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas this Wednesday.