'I Tried to End My Life Three Times': Freed Israeli Hostage Arbel Yehoud Reveals Daily Sexual Abuse in Gaza Captivity

Survivor credits partner Ariel Cunio and protests at Hostages Square for giving her reason to live after months of unspeakable torment

A freed Israeli hostage has broken her silence with harrowing testimony of sexual abuse so relentless that she attempted to take her own life three times during months of captivity in Gaza.

Arbel Yehoud, who was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 attacks and held for an extended period before her release, disclosed the full scope of her suffering in an interview with The Daily Mail published Saturday.

'Almost Every Single Day'

Yehoud chose not to detail the graphic specifics of the abuse, but her description of its frequency and intensity paints a devastating picture of life in captivity.

"During my time in captivity, I was sexually assaulted nearly every day," she told the publication. "I made three attempts to end my life. It felt like I had no other option. There were times when I believed escaping was the only solution."

The 29-year-old's testimony adds to mounting evidence that sexual violence was systematically employed against Israeli hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups following the October 7 massacre that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.

What Kept Her Alive

In a separate interview with Israeli outlet N12 on Friday, Yehoud revealed the two forces that ultimately pulled her back from the edge: love for her partner, Ariel Cunio, and the sight of massive protests in Israel demanding the hostages' return.

Yehoud and Cunio began their relationship in 2018. On October 7, 2023, they were both taken from their home in Nir Oz, one of the hardest-hit communities during the Hamas assault. They were separated upon arrival in Gaza, adding months of uncertainty about each other's fate to their individual ordeals.

But when Yehoud, through whatever limited information reached her, learned of the protests at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv—the gatherings that became a symbol of national anguish and determination—something shifted.

"Once I witnessed that, I stopped attempting to end my life there," she said.

She recognized symbols representing herself, Cunio, and other captives from Nir Oz. The knowledge that they were not forgotten, that thousands of strangers were fighting for their release, became a lifeline.

A Bond Tested by Horror

The couple's separation in captivity added a distinct layer of psychological torment. Both endured months of uncertainty, unable to know if the other was alive, injured, or suffering similar abuse.

Cunio was released in a later hostage deal, and the two have been reunited—but the scars of their separate ordeals will not heal quickly.

Global Attention

Yehoud's decision to speak publicly adds her voice to a growing chorus of survivors whose testimony is shaping international understanding of what hostages endured in Gaza. Her account underscores the particular vulnerability of female captives and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war—a reality human rights organizations have documented across multiple conflicts.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which has led the campaign for captives' return, has repeatedly raised concerns about sexual abuse, citing testimony from released hostages and intelligence gathered during the war.

The Larger Picture

Yehoud's story highlights not only individual suffering but the broader stakes of the hostage crisis that has defined much of Israel's national trauma since October 7. Of the approximately 240 people taken captive that day, more than 100 remain in Gaza—their conditions unknown, their families caught in a nightmare of uncertainty.

For Yehoud, the public support that helped keep her alive now fuels her willingness to share what she endured. "My strength was constantly challenged," she said, "yet my bond with my partner and the visible backing from my community provided me with motivation to live."

The question now is whether that same public consciousness can translate into action for those still held—and whether the world will reckon with the full scope of what hostages endured in the tunnels and rooms where they were kept from view.