Israeli Hostage Rom Braslavski Alleges Sexual Abuse in Gaza

Rom Braslavski, 21, the Israeli hostage abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, has publicly alleged that he was subjected to sexual violence during his two-year captivity in Gaza. His revelation marks the first time a male hostage has come forward with such claims, offering a rare insight into the treatment of hostages by Palestinian militant groups.

In an emotional interview with Channel 13’s Hazinor programme, Braslavski recounted being stripped naked, tied up, and repeatedly humiliated by his captors, describing the ordeal as “sexual violence, and its main purpose was humiliation. Its goal was to humiliate me, to crush my dignity.” He also described enduring regular beatings, saying, “You just pray to God for it to stop. Every day, with every beating, you say to yourself – I completed another day in hell.”

Braslavski was held by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group allied with Hamas, which took part in cross-border attacks in October 2023. During his captivity, militants released a video showing Braslavski appearing skeletal and in visible distress. He was released on October 13, 2025, as part of a ceasefire agreement that also secured the release of 20 other hostages and around 2,000 Palestinian detainees.

An official from Islamic Jihad denied Braslavski’s sexual abuse allegations, calling them “incorrect” without providing further details. Meanwhile, an Israeli government spokesperson described his account as “living testimony” of the brutal conditions hostages faced under Gaza’s militant groups.

Previous reports have documented sexual abuse against female hostages, and in March 2024, UN experts confirmed that some hostages in Gaza were subjected to sexual violence. Hamas, which held the majority of hostages, has consistently denied the allegations.

Braslavski’s testimony sheds light on the broader humanitarian impact of the conflict, which saw over 68,000 fatalities during Israel’s two-year military response and involved the abduction of 251 hostages by Palestinian militants in 2023. Rights groups have documented abuse on both sides, including allegations of sexual violence in Israeli prisons.

The former hostage’s courage in sharing his experience provides a critical perspective on the human cost of conflict and underscores the ongoing investigations into abuses during the war.