Melania Trump to Honor Former Hostage Amit Soussana for Exposing Hamas Sexual Violence

Amit Soussana, a former hostage of Hamas who publicly exposed the terror group’s sexual abuse, will be honored next week by First Lady Melania Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the prestigious International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Soussana was kidnapped from her home on October 7, 2023, and held captive by Hamas for 55 harrowing days. In heart-wrenching testimony before the United Nations, she described being shackled by the ankle, held in solitary confinement, and subjected to repeated sexual assault by her armed captor.

“I knew exactly what he was planning to do, yet I couldn’t do anything to prevent it. I was utterly helpless,” she testified. “When the assault was over, I wasn’t even allowed to cry or be sad.”

Her decision to speak publicly shattered a painful silence and paved the way for other survivors to come forward, defying the stigma surrounding sexual violence in captivity. Soussana’s voice became a global call to confront the brutal tactics of Hamas a U.S.-designated terrorist organization and to acknowledge the suffering endured by female hostages.

Now in its 19th year, the IWOC Award recognizes women from around the world who display extraordinary courage in advocating for justice, human rights, and the empowerment of women and girls. Since its inception in 2007, more than 200 women from over 90 countries have received the honor.

Soussana will be recognized alongside eight other women leaders and will participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program, connecting with American organizations focused on advancing women's rights and survivor support.

Her recognition in Washington is not only a tribute to her bravery but also a powerful indictment of Hamas’s inhumane treatment of women. It sends a clear message: the world is watching, and survivors will be honored not silenced.

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