World
Israeli woman bravely describes horror as Hamas hostage: 'They were taking pleasure in hurting me'
Warning: This article includes graphic and disturbing accounts from the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.
“My life, once simple and quiet, was shattered when I was taken hostage by this ruthless terror group.”
Amit Soussana, who became the first Israeli woman to speak publicly about the sexual violence she endured during her 55 days in captivity in Gaza after Hamas terrorists abducted her on Oct. 7, spoke before the United Nations (U.N.) on Wednesday at an event to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the mandate on sexual violence in conflicts.
Soussana described her life before the Hamas attack, explaining, “I worked as an attorney in an office that I truly loved, rented a small house in the kibbutz, and my biggest concern, like most people, was deciding what to have for dinner.” She emphasized her commitment to privacy, saying, “I stayed away from social media and was a very private person. My privacy was and still is very important to me.”
Soussana was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza by a group of at least 10 men and forcibly taken to Gaza, where she was subjected to horrifying experiences. She was released in late November 2023 as part of the first and only hostage deal with Hamas.
HAMAS TERRORISTS ‘SYSTEMATICALLY AND INTENTIONALLY’ COMMITTED SEXUAL VIOLENCE DURING OCT. 7 ATTACK: REPORT
Amit Soussana spoke before the U.N. on Wednesday, sharing her harrowing experience as a hostage. Hamas terrorists abducted her on Oct. 7, 2023. (UNTV)
She recounted the day of her abduction, vividly remembering the peaceful Saturday morning that was a Jewish holiday, “Simchat Torah,” exactly a year before today – which is again the same holiday in Israel on Thursday.
“The tranquility was shattered by the sound of thousands of missiles launching from Gaza, followed by the terrifying approach of gunfire,” she recalled. Soussana barricaded herself in her safe room, her body trembling from fear, until a hand grenade exploded in her living room. “My home was invaded by heavily armed men in civilian clothing,” she said, detailing her shock and vulnerability.
In a state of distress, she described her abduction. “I was in my pajamas, barefoot, and decided to take the blanket from my bed to cover myself.” She was dragged from her burning house to the Gaza border, beaten severely along the way.
Amit Soussana was released after 55 days of untold abuse during her captivity at the hands of Hamas terrorists. (Getty Images)
“It felt as though they were taking pleasure in hurting me,” she said. Despite the grave danger, she resisted, stating, “I feared for my body and soul more than I feared for my life. So I fought back.” As a result, she suffered significant injuries, including a broken eye socket and a knee injury that still affects her.
During her captivity, Soussana was chained by her ankle, unable to move. “I had to ask for permission to use the bathroom,” she explained, detailing her experience. “In that house, I was sexually assaulted by the Hamas terrorist who had guarded me.” She described the assault, saying, “He forced me to go to the shower and entered the room, pointed his gun at me. He was breathing heavily and had a monstrous beast-like face.” She recalled his intrusive questioning while he sat next to her in his underwear, lifting her shirt and touching her. “I knew exactly what he was planning to do, and yet I couldn’t do anything to prevent it. I was utterly helpless.”
UN FINALLY RECOGNIZES THAT ISRAELI WOMEN WERE RAPED, SEXUALLY ATTACKED BY HAMAS TERRORISTS
Demonstrators in support of Israel gather to denounce antisemitism and call for the release of Israeli hostages on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14, 2023. (STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
After the assault, she noted, “I wasn’t even allowed to cry or to be sad. I had no one to comfort me and was forced to act nice to the person who had just sexually assaulted me.” She continued, “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about what that terrible man did to me, but I keep reminding myself that I’m free now and that he can’t hurt me again.”
A few days later, she was transferred to a new location with different guards. “Even though I was terrified, I felt fortunate that at least I wasn’t with the man who sexually violated me,” she said. However, she faced further torment. “I was tortured, hung upside down, beaten, humiliated and feared for my life,” she recalled. Eventually, she was taken into an underground tunnel, where she felt as though she was “buried alive” and subjected to inhumane conditions.
After enduring an agonizing 55 days, she was finally freed but expressed that her sense of freedom was overshadowed by the plight of those still captive. “I do not feel free while others remain in captivity, enduring the same nightmare,” she stated, highlighting the promise she and other hostages made to fight for each other’s release. “Today, I honor this promise by telling my story,” she added.
CHILDREN ONCE HELD HOSTAGE STILL WORKING THROUGH TRAUMA: ‘ARE THEY COMING FOR US AGAIN?’
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon speaks to mothers who lost their children in the Oct. 7 terror attack at the “Eternal Embrace” photo exhibition at United Nations headquarters in New York City on Oct. 7, 2024. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
Soussana concluded her speech with a heartfelt plea to the U.N. “I urge you to fulfill your duty, take immediate action to secure the release of those still held captive,” she said. “Every day that passes steals another piece of their soul and endangers their life.” She called upon the U.N. to not turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed against innocent civilians. “It is your responsibility to protect human rights, to combat terrorism, and to bring those responsible for these heinous crimes to justice,” she urged.
As she finished, she reiterated her call to action. “The world is watching, waiting for the U.N. Security Council to live up to its mandate. I beg you, do not fail us. Secure the freedom of the hostages and ensure that no one else suffers the same fate. Remember, it is our collective duty to combat terrorism and protect human rights. The time to act is now.”
Palestinians take control of an Israeli Merkava battle tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)
At the event, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said, “We will not stop until all 101 of our hostages are released by Hamas.”
Danon thanked Soussana for her courage. “Thank you for sharing your story with the world and revealing again the true face of the terrorist organization Hamas. It is important to remember that the long hand of the IDF will reach everyone who belongs to the terrorist organization Hamas and eliminate him.”
In March, five months after the massacre, the U.N. published a report acknowledging that rape and gang rape, among other acts of sexual violence, likely occurred during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and said there was “clear and convincing” evidence that hostages were raped while being held in Gaza, and that those currently held captive are still facing such abuse. Soussana was one of the witnesses in the report.
Among the 101 hostages still held in Gaza are women and children.
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Four Americans were reportedly caught in a fiery multi-vehicle crash in Mexico that left at least 10 people dead and about 10 others injured.
The massive pileup happened Sunday after a tractor-trailer crashed into multiple vehicles on a highway in the western state of Jalisco, according to the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Nayarit.
While the agency reported 10 deaths, Mexico’s Army, Air Force and National Guard said nine people were killed.
Jalisco Civil Protection told Reuters that four Americans suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital.
EIGHT BELIEVED DEAD AFTER B-52 CRASHES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE
A vehicle was left charred and mangled following a massive multi-vehicle pileup in Jalisco, Mexico, on Sunday. (Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Nayarit)
“Four patients in minor condition, all U.S. citizens, were transferred to the Arboledas Hospital in Guadalajara by a private ambulance from the highway,” Jalisco Civil Protection said.
Reuters reported that two of those killed were minors.
Another two of the injured were identified as National Guard members who suffered serious injuries and were taken to a hospital in Guadalajara, according to Reuters.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show several vehicles engulfed in flames along the highway connecting Guadalajara and Tepic, sending multiple plumes of black smoke into the air.
MISSOURI SKYDIVING PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED ALL 12 ABOARD IS A ‘DEVASTATING LOSS,’ COMPANY SAYS
A firefighter works to douse the smoking engine of a destroyed vehicle after a devastating highway collision in Jalisco, Mexico, on Sunday. (Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Nayarit)
According to Mexican officials, the crash happened when a tractor-trailer apparently suffered a brake failure and slammed into a line of vehicles that had stopped because of an earlier accident.
“According to initial reports, a trailer reportedly suffered a failure in its braking system and ended up crashing into several vehicles that were stopped due to a prior incident,” Mexico’s Army, Air Force and National Guard said in a post on X.
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The initial accident reportedly involved a rear-end collision between two tractor-trailers. As emergency crews responded, a third tractor-trailer crashed into the scene, according to the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Nayarit.
“As a result of this second impact, three private vehicles and two tractor-trailer trucks were completely destroyed by the fire,” the authorities said. “Additionally, two other private vehicles and an official Dodge Charger unit belonging to the National Guard sustained material damage. “
Mexican authorities inspect the incinerated frame of a tractor-trailer on a highway connecting Guadalajara and Tepic in Jalisco, Mexico, on Sunday. (Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of Nayarit)
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Firefighters later extinguished the blaze, officials said.
Local outlet El Financiero reported that the driver of the tractor-trailer was detained by the National Guard.
Reuters contributed to this report.
At least 27 people were killed and 63 injured, many critically, after a fire ripped through a popular pub in Bangkok. Authorities are investigating whether the pub, located near the iconic Chatuchak Weekend Market, had adequate escape routes.
Published On 13 Jul 2026
The Walt Disney Company’s live action “Moana” may be the No. 1 movie at the domestic box office, but it did not make a big splash in its first weekend in theaters.
The movie, which cost a reported $250 million to produce, earned just $43 million from ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Internationally, it earned $52 million from 50 markets, adding up to a $95 million global debut.
The studio bet big on “Moana,” one of its most popular franchises. The 2016 animated film is the most watched movie on Disney+. Its sequel, which was stitched together from a planned streaming series, made over $1 billion and scored a Thanksgiving record when it opened with $225 million in 2024. “Moana 2” was also released just 19 months ago.
This latest “Moana,” directed by Thomas Kail, brings Dwayne Johnson back as the demigod Maui and introduces Catherine Lagaʻaia as the adventuring Polynesian princess. Despite praise for Lagaʻaia, the film set sail on a wave of dismal reviews from critics for being essentially a shot-for-shot remake of the original.
What audiences say about “Moana”
It’s currently sitting at a 34% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences, the majority of whom were women (66%), were less negative: According to PostTrak, 63% said they would “definitely” recommend the film to their friends. Parent reactions were even stronger, with 78% saying they would recommend it to other parents. It also got a promising A- CinemaScore.
Disney’s live action remakes of beloved animated films, new and old, have had their share of successes and disappointments. Some have made over $1 billion, including “Lilo & Stitch,” “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Others have floundered, most notably last year’s “Snow White,” which made only $205 million worldwide. “Moana” opened more on par with “Snow White” ($42.2 million).
Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, said “Moana’s” debut could also be a product of PG-rated oversaturation in the marketplace: Universal’s “Minions & Monsters” was in second place with $20.5 million and “Toy Story 5” was close behind in third place with $18.5 million.
“Families love going to the movies, but right now there are three of them,” Dergarabedian said. “That’s a lot of competition.”
PG-rated films outgrossed others in 2024 and 2025, so “Moana’s” performance may not be a case of “family movie fatigue,” he said, but simply shows there can be a ceiling. Families have to make a choice, and after four weekends, “Toy Story 5” is still going strong with a running global total of $879.1 million.
There also are signs that these movies might not sink or swim based on the opening weekend alone. Although “Minions & Monsters” opened below expectations over the Fourth of July holiday, it also had a modest 45% drop this weekend. Its running domestic total is currently sitting at $108.3 million.
Elsewhere at the box office, horror and history
The weekend’s other big new opener was definitely not PG: The R-rated horror “Evil Dead Burn,” a Warner Bros. release, opened in fourth place with $13.7 million. It’s a significant dip from the previous two films in the series, which both opened in the $25 million range.
Angel Studios’ George Washington movie “Young Washington” rounded out the top five films in its second weekend in theaters, with $6.4 million. Olivia Wilde’s chamber dramedy “The Invite” landed in sixth place in its first weekend in wide release, with $5.7 million from 1,610 theaters.
And though it has dropped out of the top 10 domestically, “Michael” has officially crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, only the second film this year to do so after “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” It’s also now the highest grossing musical biopic of all time, a title previously held by “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The total domestic box office for the year is currently sitting just under $5.2 billion, up about 10.7% from this point last year. While both May and June were very strong — both generating over $1 billion in North America — July, Dergarabedian said, has faced some headwinds with a string of underperformers, including “Supergirl.” Things will likely pick up next week with the arrival of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” followed by “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” the weekend after.
“They could power a stronger August than July at the box office, which would be very unusual,” Dergarabedian said.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak:
1. “Moana,” $43 million.
2. “Minions & Monsters,” $20.5 million.
3. “Toy Story 5,” $18.5 million.
4. “Evil Dead Burn,” $13.7 million.
5. “Young Washington,” $6.4 million.
6. “The Invite,” $5.7 million.
7. “Obsession,” $3.8 million.
8. “Supergirl,” $3.6 million.
9. “Disclosure Day,” $3.2 million.
10. “Backrooms,” $1.5 million.
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