Naama Levy, one of the four female Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers released from Hamas captivity on Saturday, has spoken out for the first time. Levy, who was held captive for 477 days, expressed her gratitude to Israeli combat soldiers and the Israeli people, saying she saw how they were fighting for her release.
In a post on Instagram, Levy wrote, “After 477 days, I’m finally home. I’m safe and protected, surrounded by family and friends, and I am feeling better by the day.” She also thanked her fellow hostages, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, and Karina Ariev, with whom she was reunited after 50 days in captivity. The group stuck together and “strengthened each other every day until our release and also after it.”
Berger, the fourth hostage, is expected to be released on Thursday along with Arbel Yehoud and an unnamed male hostage. Levy’s release was part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Levy’s kidnapping in October 2023 was captured on video, showing her being pulled from a Jeep by an armed man with her ankles slashed. The video went viral and Levy became a symbol for the plight of the female hostages and victims of Hamas’ surprise attacks.
Levy’s mother, Ayelet Levy Shachar, wrote an essay for The Free Press in November 2023, emphasizing that the image of her daughter’s kidnapping was not representative of her life before the abduction.
The release of Levy and her fellow hostages was welcomed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, which called it a “moment of light in the darkness, a moment of hope and triumph of spirit.” However, more than 15 months into the Israel-Hamas war, dozens of hostages remain in Gaza.
