Amit Soussana, an Israeli lawyer who survived 55 days in Hamas captivity, was honored with the International Women of Courage Award by Melania Trump. After her release, Soussana spoke about the trauma she endured, including sexual violence, and shared her new perspective on freedom. She emphasized how captivity stripped away her control over her life, but the strength taught by her mother remained intact. Other awardees included activists from various global regions, underscoring a commitment to honor those combatting injustice and advocating for women's rights.
In captivity, I had no control over my body, no control over my life. I resisted as best as I could, but it was not enough to stop what happened to me. The darkness was suffocating.
Yet even in the darkness, there was one thing they could not have taken from me: the strength my mother instilled in me, the belief that we must always stand for what is right, no matter the cost.
Today, I understand the true meaning of freedom in a way I never had before. To see the moon and stars and to breathe, to choose one's own life, those are things I will never take for granted.
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