Visiting destroyed home, freed hostage says entire 55 days was ’emotional and physical terror’

Amit Soussana, right, embraced by a friend in front of her destroyed house in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, January 29, 2024. (AP Photo/ Leo Correa)
Amit Soussana, right, embraced by a friend in front of her destroyed house in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, January 29, 2024. (AP Photo/ Leo Correa)

Freed Israeli hostage Amit Soussana, who spent 55 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza, says every second of that time felt like eternity — and she fears for the resilience of the more than 100 remaining hostages abducted on October 7.

Returning to the ruins of the Kfar Aza kibbutz, her former home, where she was seized by Hamas terrorists during their deadly rampage across southern Israel, Amit Soussana is campaigning in support of the hostages alongside some of their relatives.

“I was under an emotional and physical terror the entire 55 days I was held in captivity, feeling like every moment can be my last. Every second felt like eternity,” says Soussana, 40, wearing a sweatshirt with the slogan “Bring them home NOW.”

She says it is hard to imagine how those still held in Gaza must feel 115 days into their ordeal, with no end in sight.

“I hope that the remaining hostages there are able to keep their faith alive and stay strong. But even the toughest souls can’t hold on for such a long time,” she says.

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