Horrific particulars of sexual torture by Hamas revealed in documentary

Horrific details of sexual torture carried out by Hamas on October 7 are revealed in a new documentary, with the sisters of one female hostage begging for her release. 

The 60-minute film ‘Screams Before Silence,’ created by Israeli production company Kastina Communications, and presented by Sheryl Sandberg was shown at the Southampton Arts Center Wednesday night. 

The film shines a light on the atrocities and sexual violence against women and girls – specifically to those who deny they occurred.

Nearly 100 gathered for the private screening that featured special guests – Shani, 26, and May, 21, Yerushalmi, whose sister Eden, 24, has been in captivity in Gaza for nearly 300 days. 

Sandberg is pictured throughout the deeply emotional film speaking to eyewitnesses, released hostages, survivors, first responders, and medical and forensic experts.

In a previous interview, she told The Wall Street Journal that being part of the documentary ‘is the most important work of my life.’

Sandberg has been outspoken about Hamas using sexual violence as a war tactic. In December, she told the United Nations that ‘rape should never be used as an act of war,’ CNN reported.

In the film, Sandberg interviews Dr. Ayelet Levy Shachar, the mother of Naama Levy whose 19-year-old daughter, and IDF soldier, was kidnapped, and is still being held hostage by the terror group. 

Viewing those horrifying moments on October 7 that is excruciating to watch, Levy said her daughter’s ‘face looks terrified.’

‘She’s barefoot and in her pajamas and they’re bloodstained,’ she said. ”They’re grabbing her by the hair, and she’s all, like messed up.’

‘I am thinking of what she experienced, you know, until that point and how long was she…,’  her voice trailed off.

‘Maybe that is the thing with the video, we would like to think that this couldn’t be possible –  that nobody would harm a young girl but then you see it there,’ she said through tears.

 ‘They’re the one who posted the video – the Hamas.’

Nova Music Festival Survivor Tali Biner went back to the site with Sandberg and stood in the white trailer showing her where she hid for seven hours.

 ‘Two of my friends were here. One was here. We were on the ground. My head was here. My legs were bended,’ she explained.

She appeared shaken as she recalled the haunting cries and screams she heard from  women and girls nearby – that went on for 15 to 20 minutes –  screams, she said, that didn’t stop.

She told Sandberg she too feared for her life and thought she would be raped. She told her that she started to calculate in her mind, ‘what is worse to get kidnapped, to get raped or to get shot.’

Sandberg, who seemed as equally shaken, asked her how the screaming ended in these cases, Biner said, ‘they got shot. Then silence.’

Amit Soussana was held hostage for 55 days, and the first person to publicly say she was sexually abused in captivity, The New York Times reported.

She said her ‘instinct was just to fight,’ when 10 men surrounded her. ‘I wanted to show them that I’m strong that they are not going to take me so easily.’

But she also shared the darkest fears that flooded her mind. 

‘I didn’t mind getting killed. I think I maybe preferred that in those moments. I was scared, I was really scared. 

‘That they’re gonna rape me there and that they’re going to drag me through Gaza streets and parade my body around, so I feared that more than being killed.’

After the film there was a Q&A moderated by Christina Cuomo.

With their translator Orif Caspi by their side, the sisters told the audience what they are doing to keep their sister’s voice alive, and how critical it was to bring their sister and all the other hostages home.

Describing their sister as a happy person, with lots of friends, the life of the party, who loves to dance and laugh. Before October 7, she was waitressing and living with friends in Tel Aviv.

Shani said the last time they saw their sister they had all met for dinner. She was  going to the Nova Music Festival with two friends she worked with.

She recalled Eden being excited about going to the festival to work and play. It  would also be her first bartending job.

When she arrived in the Negev desert, she spent part of the early morning hours partying and dancing with friends – until 6.30am when the music stopped and the  gunshots and gut-wrenching screams were heard.

She called her family to tell them a terror attack was taking place, and shortly after she would watch her friends get murdered as the terrorists shot at their car.

Shani said Eden told her she could hear the blood dripping from the bullet wounds and as she played dead, one of her friend’s lifeless bodies toppled on her. 

When she found the courage to run away, she hid behind a small bush. ‘Ants were biting her face. She was so scared. She could barely breathe,’ Shani recalled.

For nearly three hours, the sisters would stay on the phone with her trying to console her telling her to breathe – until she told them in a whispered tone in Hebrew ‘Shani …they caught me…they caught me.’

Frantic, the sisters said they remained silent so they could hear what was happening, and that is when they heard the terrorist say to Eden in Arabic ‘ta al’ meaning ‘come, get up,’ and the line cut off.

For nearly nine months, the sisters have no proof of life.

They spoke with other female hostages who were released who told some of the sexual abuse they endured.

‘It is terrifying to think of what Eden is going through in captivity,’ Shani said, ‘and the condition she might be in.’

But, they are trying not to let their mind wander and to staying positive as the continue to share her story, and focused on getting her home.

The invitation only event was co-hosted by Simone Levinson, founding co-chair of Southampton Arts Center, and philanthropist Liz Cohen Hausman, who brought the film to South Hampton after going to Sandberg’s premiere in New York.

Other attendees included Fernanda Niven, granddaughter of Oscar winner David Niven, Zibby Owens – daughter of Billionaire Stephen Schwarzman and Marie Chantal of Greece, and Prince Pavlos, among others.

Sandberg, a former COO of META, was not in attendance at the Wednesday night screening. After the film, many appeared visibly shaken by the savagery, while others felt inspired to do more.

More than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7 and over 240 hostages abducted. Approximately, 100 hostages were released  during a temporary cease-fire that ended December 1, 2023. 

Israel says there are currently 116 hostages that remain in captivity, including the bodies of at least 42, The Wall Street Journal reported.