A young Israeli woman, Romi Gonen, has come forward to detail the horrific experiences she endured while held captive by Hamas for over a year. Gonen, now 25, expressed her fears of being used as a “sex slave” during her captivity, recounting multiple instances of sexual assault and intimidation. Speaking to CNN, she stated, “No one will silence me anymore,” emphasizing her determination to share her story after being promised an early release for her silence.
Gonen was taken hostage during the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. At just 23 years old, she was subjected to the whims of her captors as they moved her between hideouts in Gaza. After 471 days in captivity, she was one of the first three hostages released due to a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
In her interview, Gonen described the first assault just days after her abduction. Initially placed in solitary confinement for the first 34 days, she had limited contact with her captors. During this time, a man posing as a medic assaulted her under the guise of treating a gunshot wound she sustained during the initial attack. “He was a ‘nurse’ so he allowed himself to ‘help me.’ I was wounded, powerless, and couldn’t do anything,” she recounted.
Gonen also detailed a harrowing 16-day period where two men, identified as Ibrahim and Mohammed, repeatedly harassed and threatened her. She vividly recalled feeling trapped and terrified, noting, “I start crying insanely, and he says, ‘Be careful. If you don’t calm down, I’ll get angry.’” The psychological and physical torment compounded as she faced constant surveillance, including being followed into the bathroom by her captors.
In a particularly distressing moment, Gonen was forced into a bathroom by one of her captors, who assaulted her while she cried. “He was having the time of his life, ecstatic, as if he had received the gift of a lifetime,” she said. Gonen’s fear escalated as she realized that many in Israel believed she was dead, and she grappled with the terrifying thought of being a permanent captive.
As the abuse continued, senior Hamas commanders were made aware of the situation. Gonen was taken through a tunnel and placed on a phone call with Izz a Din al-Haddad, the head of the Hamas Gaza Brigade. During this conversation, she was offered a deal for her silence, with promises of being prioritized for release in exchange for her compliance.
“They often silenced my story and told me not to tell it,” Gonen stated. “Now I am here, sitting in front of the camera, and honestly, no one will silence me anymore.” She emphasized the lasting impact of her experience, noting that she continues to deal with the aftermath but feels stronger for having survived.
According to a report by the Dinah Project in July 2025, Gonen’s experiences were not isolated. Thirteen other women and two men confirmed they had also faced or witnessed sexual violence while being held hostage in Gaza. Gonen’s courageous decision to speak out highlights the urgent need for awareness and action regarding the treatment of hostages and the realities of sexual violence in conflict zones.
