"They Murdered Me Every Day"
Two Years of Terror: Former Hostage Rom Baraslavsky Details Torture and Witnessing Atrocities in Hamas Captivity
In an exclusive interview, former hostage Rom Baraslavsky described the two-year ordeal where Hamas "murdered him physically and mentally every day," leaving him with deep scars and a ruined life.
Witness to the Massacre
Rom Baraslavsky, a survivor of the October 7 massacre and a former hostage who was released during a prisoner exchange on the eve of Simchat Torah, offered a harrowing account of his experience at the "Atreju" conference in Italy. The event was hosted by the ruling party, the Brothers of Italy, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
In an interview with Italian-Jewish journalist Maurizio Molinari, Baraslavsky recounted the events of October 7 and the subsequent two years he spent in captivity. His testimony included witnessing the immediate atrocities committed by the Hamas terrorists.
"I saw the horrors with my own eyes," Baraslavsky stated. "I was abducted by Hamas and saw how young women were thrown to the ground and butchered with gunfire."
"Murdered Me Physically and Mentally"
Baraslavsky detailed the brutal mental and physical anguish he endured throughout his prolonged captivity at the hands of the terrorists. The emotional and physical abuse was relentless, leaving him with deep, lasting scars.
He recounted the constant torment: "During my two years of captivity, they murdered me physically and mentally every day, abused my soul, and left scars on my body and soul everywhere."
The former captive also spoke about the profound, destructive impact that the ordeal has had on other released hostages, stating that he knows survivors "who have lost their sense of justice, lost the ability to communicate."
A Plea for Justice and Peace
Baraslavsky concluded his powerful testimony with a moving appeal to the attendees of the conference, asking them to maintain their focus on justice and peace.
"I ask you to continue to do this good work that you are doing for justice and peace, which I supported before October 7," he pleaded.
He also provided a final, stark assessment of the unprovoked violence he experienced and witnessed: "My life was destroyed. The massacre of October 7 had no justified reason." His words served as a powerful reminder of the lasting human cost of the terrorist attack and the critical need for continued efforts to secure the release of all remaining captives and address the threat posed by Hamas.