A freed Israeli hostage says she drew “hope and strength” from other captives while she was being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Naama Levy, 20, who was kidnapped by the Palestinian militant group during the October 7, 2023, attacks, was freed alongside three other female Israeli soldiers on Saturday, as part of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.
“After 477 days I am finally home. I am secure and protected, and surrounded by family and friends,” Levy posted on Instagram on Tuesday. Levy, 20, added that she feels “better with each day that passes.”
“I was mostly alone, then I was in captivity with my friends, observers and civilians who gave me hope and strength,” Levy said. “It is important for me to thank the IDF fighters and all the Israeli people. I saw how you were fighting for me when I was captive. Thank you all, I love you.”
Her parents have spoken to CNN several times in the past 15 months urging for her release, including in December, 2023, after she appeared in a cell phone video published by Hamas showing her being dragged by her hair at gunpoint. The footage showed her hands bound, and her pants soaked in blood.
“For her, time is running out,” her mother, Ayelet Levy Shachar, said at the time. She described her daughter as a “very fun-loving girl.”
“When she comes back, she will make the world a better place,” added Levy Shachar.
Next steps in the hostage deal
Levy is one of seven hostages who have been released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal agreed by Israel and Hamas.
Her message came as an Israeli official told CNN that the US envoy to the Middle East would meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to discuss the second phase of the deal.
Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the region, is also scheduled to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the official told CNN.
The current ceasefire deal is set up to progress in three distinct phases. Phase one began on January 19 and is expected to last six weeks. During this time a further 26 hostages – in addition to the seven already released – are expected to be freed, while Israel is to release almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The second and third phases of the ceasefire are less developed – and the details will be decided during the six weeks of the first phase. Over the past 15 months, Qatar, Egypt and the US have been key mediators in the discussions between Israel and Hamas.
CNN’s Bianna Golodryga and Sarah Boxer contributed reporting.
