A former Israeli hostage, Rom Braslavski, stated in a recent TV interview that he experienced sexual assault during his two-year captivity in Gaza. The 21-year-old shared his experiences on Channel 13’s Hazinor program, revealing that members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) stripped him, tied him up, and subjected him to sexual violence. He noted that the main intention behind this violence was to humiliate him.
Mr. Braslavski was on leave from military service and working as a security guard at the Nova music festival when Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages taken. In retaliation, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza that reportedly killed over 68,800 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Four weeks ago, Mr. Braslavski was among the last Israeli hostages released under a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. He indicated that his treatment by PIJ worsened significantly after he declined to convert from Judaism to Islam in March, coinciding with the collapse of a prior ceasefire. He detailed instances of being restrained and tortured, including being blindfolded and denied sufficient food and water, leading to extreme physical degradation.
Following the release of a video in August 2025, in which he appeared distressed and near death, Mr. Braslavski reported further sexual abuse by his captors. He described being stripped bare and subjected to additional assaults during that time, stating the experience was “horrific” and difficult to articulate.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog acknowledged Mr. Braslavski’s bravery in sharing his story and emphasized the need for awareness regarding the abuses reported during the conflict. At least four women hostages have also alleged sexual abuse publicly. A PIJ official refuted Mr. Braslavski’s claims, while a UN Special Representative had reported in March 2024 finding credible evidence of sexual violence against hostages. In a related note, a UN commission in March 2025 claimed that Israel had engaged in various forms of gender-based violence, which Israel dismissed as unfounded. Recently, a senior Israeli military lawyer resigned for her role in leaking a video of alleged abuse involving a Palestinian detainee, resulting in charges against five soldiers.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkz0yzde80o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss