Romy Gonen, a former hostage of the terrorist eliminated by Israeli forces, said in a statement that the operative sexually assaulted her after four days in captivity. 'His death won't erase anything — but unequivocally justice was done with him,' she said.
Romy Gonen, a former hostage who was abducted from the Nova festival on October 7, 2023, and released after 471 days, revealed in a statement Friday evening that the Hamas terrorist who held her captive sexually assaulted her after four days in captivity. "After four days in Gaza he couldn't restrain himself and followed me into the shower," she said. "His death won't erase anything — but unequivocally justice was done with him." This is the first time Gonen has publicly detailed the assault, expanding on her earlier comments that the terrorist "destroyed my innocence."
The thread of this story developed rapidly Friday evening. At 18:22 Jerusalem, initial reports from ynet indicated the elimination of a Hamas terrorist who held Gonen and the late Cpl. Noa Marciano. Minutes later, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed the operation and identified the killed operative as Abd al-Rahim Kardi, a deputy cell commander in Hamas's military wing who also served as a doctor at Shifa Hospital. Gonen's initial reaction, reported by The Zioneer, was: "He is in hell today and I am here alive." In subsequent statements, she described the terrorist as the one who "ruined my innocence" and "dirtied my soul." Now, in her latest statement, she has provided explicit details of the sexual assault.
Gonen was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival on October 7, 2023, and held captive for 471 days before being released. The terrorist eliminated today, Abd al-Rahim Kardi, was also involved in holding the body of Cpl. Noa Marciano after her murder. The IDF and Shin Bet carried out the strike in the Gaza City area on Thursday, with the announcement made Friday.
The statement did not provide further details about the assault. It remains unclear whether additional investigations or legal proceedings will follow regarding the circumstances of Gonen's captivity.
9 developments
- StrongReport: IDF eliminated terrorist who held Romi Gonen captive
- DevelopingFormer hostage Ilana Gritzewsky says Hamas terrorist told her he would marry her in captivity
- StrongEmily Damari: 'Now they are burning in the fire of hell' after terrorist's elimination
- DevelopingIris Haim says she felt no joy of revenge after terrorist who held her son was eliminated
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