German Hamas hostage speaks about captivity
After October 7, Yarden Romann was in the clutches of Hamas for weeks. In an interview, the German gives an insight into her emotional world. As a woman in particular, she says she lived in constant fear with the terrorist organization.
According to a freed German-Israeli hostage, women in particular have to endure particular fears when held captive by the terrorist organization Hamas. "As a woman, you never quite get the fear out of your head of being raped or being part of a series of acts, ever," Yarden Romann told US broadcaster CBS in an interview.
"It's just not an option because as long as you're there, you're hopeless. You have no protection, you can never talk back, it could cost you your life," Romann said in a pre-released clip from the "60 Minutes" program. The fear wasn't always extreme, but it never went away, she said.
Husband and daughter escaped the terrorists
Romann was released by Hamas at the end of November as part of an agreement with the Israeli government. According to her family, she was visiting her in-laws in Kibbutz Beeri in the border region when she, her husband and their young daughter were dragged into a car by terrorists during the massacre on October 7. The three of them initially managed to flee on the way to the Gaza Strip, but were separated during the escape. Her husband and daughter hid in the bushes and escaped.
Weeks after the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, new reports of brutal acts of sexual violence against women and girls continue to come to light. The Israeli police have launched an investigation into reports of mass sexual crimes against women on that day.
An independent commission of experts is also collecting eyewitness accounts, forensic and other evidence. The reports also fuel concerns about young women who are still being held by the terrorist organization and whose release Hamas has so far refused.
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Despite being released from Hamas's custody, Romann's experiences of sexualized violence during the Israel war remain a profound concern. Reports of similar atrocities against women and girls during that period have brought the issue of sexualized violence during conflicts to the forefront, with an ongoing investigation by Israeli authorities.
Source: www.ntv.de
