The urgent call for action
In a poignant Knesset session on sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, two recently released hostages, Aviva Siegel and Chen Goldstein-Almog, shared distressing accounts of their captivity. Their chilling testimonies highlighted the plight of women they left behind in the grip of Hamas in Gaza, enduring ongoing abuse and uncertainty.
Why it matters
For Israel, the safety and welfare of its citizens are paramount, and claims of sexual violence against hostages held by enemy entities present severe humanitarian and moral concerns. Preventing such atrocities and securing the release of all captives is seen not only as a duty but also as an essential task that reflects on the nation’s values and international image.
Behind the headlines
The testimony
Chen Goldstein-Almog’s narrative brings to life the despair of the captives, emphasizing the mental and physical anguish they face, from uncertainties about their families and communities to concerns over sexual abuse and its consequences. Aviva Siegel, who was part of an earlier prisoner exchange, recalls the demeaning treatment and objectification of the captives by their captors, suggesting that the detained women are powerless in the hands of Hamas.
A dire reality
Siegel, sharing her harrowing 51-day experience, indicated that her time in Gaza is still a torturous presence in her mind, haunted by the ongoing violence. She deplored the world’s silence and demanded action, reinforced by her daughter Shir’s fervent plea. Shir’s powerful admonishment of the Knesset’s inaction implores Israeli leadership to escalate the matter to ensure the wellbeing and immediate release of those still captive.
The bottom line
The freed captives have not only thrust the dark underbelly of abduction and gender-based violence to the forefront of Israeli discourse but have also offered a personal imperative for lawmakers. There is no underestimating the gravity of their appeals which not only outline steps needed for the captives’ reprieve but also hold the power to provoke a nation to act without delay for the lives still hanging in the balance.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.