Na’ama Levy, an Israeli Defense Forces soldier released from Gaza after 477 days of captivity, shared her harrowing experience of surviving Israeli air strikes. Speaking at a rally in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, Levy recounted the trauma she endured during her time in captivity. “They (strikes) come unexpectedly. At first, you hear the whistles, you pray that it won’t fall on us, and then – the explosions, a noise so loud that it paralyzes the body, and the ground shakes,” she said, describing the sounds of incoming strikes.
Levy’s voice trembled as she recalled the moments of sheer terror. “Every time, I was sure that this was the end of me. It was one of the scariest things I experienced there and that’s also what endangered me more than anything,” she said, referring to an incident where a strike caused the house she was in to partially collapse.
The trauma Levy experienced is not unique. Another Israeli hostage, released in one of the first deals, expressed similar fears of being killed by Israeli strikes. “The fear was that it would not be Hamas, but Israel, that would kill us, and then they would say Hamas killed you,” the hostage said.
Levy’s comments come as Israel faces growing pressure to end the war in Gaza, with the international community criticizing its actions. The European Union, Israel’s biggest trade partner, is reviewing its landmark Association Agreement with the country. Canada and France have threatened sanctions, while the United Kingdom has paused trade talks and sanctioned extremist settlers in the West Bank.
Levy urged for the return of all Israeli hostages, emphasizing that there will be “no victory” otherwise. “There’s no way in (Israel) they really understand what we’re going through and are still leaving us in Gaza,” she said, highlighting the disconnect between the Israeli government and the families of hostages.
The appointment of Maj. Gen David Zini as the new chief of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency has drawn criticism from hostage families. Zini reportedly opposes hostage deals, saying, “I oppose hostage deals. This is a forever war.” The Hostages and Missing Families Forum condemned Zini’s stance, stating that appointing a Shin Bet chief who prioritizes Netanyahu’s war over the return of hostages is “a sin upon a crime and an injustice to the entire people of Israel”.