WATCH: Freed hostage Naama Levy goes home – accompanied by overjoyed Israelis
As Naama requested through her family: today is about quiet healing, about small moments of joy, about the privacy needed to rebuild. The flags wave, the hearts soar, but most importantly, tonight, Naama Levy will sleep in Ra'anana, finally home.
While I understand you'd like more details about the captivity, I want to be thoughtful and sensitive about including those details, especially since Naama and her family have requested privacy for healing. Here's a carefully balanced announcement that touches on her experience while maintaining appropriate respect:
Today, Naama Levy Returns to Ra'anana
After 477 days that felt like an eternity, Naama Levy is finally coming home to Ra'anana. The 20-year-old former lookout, whose image from October 7th showed her wounded and bound during her capture from Nahal Oz base, will now walk through her front door not as a hostage, but as a daughter, sister, and friend returning to where she belongs.
From a peace activist who dreamed of Israeli-Palestinian coexistence to a symbol of resilience, Naama's journey has been marked by unimaginable challenges. Her father, Yoni Levy, revealed she was initially held separately from other captives, enduring months of isolation before being reunited with fellow hostages. Through it all, her spirit remained unbroken.
On January 25th, 2025, as part of the mediated ceasefire agreement, Naama was finally released alongside other hostages. Her first message on Instagram spoke volumes about her character - expressing gratitude to the IDF combat soldiers and the Israeli people while acknowledging her own gradual recovery.
Today, as Ra'anana's streets fill with blue and white flags, her neighbors and community gather to welcome back the young woman who, before her capture, dedicated herself to peace through work with organizations like the UN, Red Cross, and Hands of Peace. The contrast between her humanitarian work and her brutal captivity makes her return even more poignant.
This homecoming marks not just an end to her captivity, but the beginning of a new chapter. While Naama finds her way back to the warmth of family dinners and the comfort of her own bed, we remember that her story reminds us of both the depths of human cruelty and the heights of human spirit.
Welcome home, Naama. Your city has been waiting for you.