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Edited by: Fern Sidman
The release of chilling interrogation footage by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has sent shockwaves through Israel, shedding light on the harrowing experiences endured by victims of Hamas terrorism during the October 7, 2023 surprise attack which left 1200 Israelis and others dead in the brutal massacre. In the footage, Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist Manar Mahmoud Muhammad Kasem, 28, admitted to committing a sickening act of rape against an Israeli girl in her own home, providing a grim insight into the brutality of the assault, as was recently reported in the New York Post.
According to reports from i24News, Kasem confessed to the heinous crime after being apprehended by the IDF, along with hundreds of other PIJ and Hamas terrorists, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Armed with grenades and a handgun during the attack, Kasem recounted the details of his assault to interrogators, describing the chilling encounter with his victim.
“She told me to help her,” Kasem recalled, recounting his encounter with the terrified girl he found in her room. The Post reported indicated that he admitted to forcibly throwing her onto a couch before proceeding to rip off her clothes and sexually assault her. In his own words, he confessed, “The devil took over me. I laid her down, started undressing her, and did what I did. I slept with her.”
However, when questioned by the interrogator, Kasem was corrected, being told that what he did was not simply “sleeping with her,” but rather committing rape. As per the information in the Post report, Kasem, quite unabashedly, confirmed his actions, acknowledging, “I raped her.”
Despite the severity of his crimes, Kasem claimed that the assault did not last long, as he was interrupted by shouting outside the home. The report in the Post revealed that he recounted how two men forcefully entered the room, prompting him to cease his assault and flee the scene.
The revelation of Kasem’s confession has sparked outrage and condemnation across Israel, underscoring the urgent need for justice and accountability in the face of such atrocities. The footage serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of Hamas terrorism and the profound trauma inflicted upon innocent victims.
Kasem, a self-proclaimed member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs brigade affiliated with the Hamas terrorist organization, confessed to a litany of crimes during his interrogation. The Post reported that among them, he admitted to shooting a civilian and hurling a grenade without remorse, callously leaving his victim’s fate unknown. Kasem’s chilling account underscores the brutality and disregard for human life that accompanies acts of terror.
The revelations of Kasem’s crimes come in the wake of Amit Soussana’s courageous recounting of her ordeal as a hostage, the report in the Post said. Soussana, who endured days of captivity at the hands of her Hamas terrorist captor identified only as Muhammad, detailed the horrific abuse she suffered. Forced to endure physical and psychological torment, Soussana described how Muhammad subjected her to sexual assault, wielding his gun as a weapon of intimidation and coercion.
In a poignant recollection of her ordeal, Soussana described the moments of terror and resistance as she fought against her assailant’s advances. Revealed in the Post report was that despite her defiance, she was forcibly subjected to unspeakable acts of sexual violence, her dignity and humanity brutally violated by her Hamas captor’s depraved actions.
Prior to the assault, Soussana endured a constant barrage of harassment and intimidation, with Muhammad’s predatory behavior pervading every aspect of her captivity. Indicated in the Post report was that his lewd comments, invasive actions, and overtly sexualized presence created an environment of fear and vulnerability, leaving Soussana powerless in the face of his relentless abuse.
The release of Kasem’s interrogation footage and Soussana’s chilling testimony have reignited calls for justice and accountability in the face of such heinous crimes. The United Nations report, citing “clear and convincing information” regarding sexual violence against Israeli hostages, underscores the urgent need for concerted action to address the scourge of sexual violence in conflict zones.
As the world grapples with the staggering toll of terrorism and its far-reaching implications, the voices of survivors like Amit Soussana serve as powerful reminders of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. Their courage in speaking out against the horrors they have endured shines a light on the urgent need for solidarity, support, and action to combat sexual violence and uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals, regardless of the horrors they face in times of conflict.
