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So moving

Daniella Gilboa's First Public Message: "I Prayed Instead of Saying Goodbye"

After 16 months of sheer hell, freed Hamas hostage Daniella Gilboa finally reveals what happened in that shelter on October 7th.

Daniell Gilboa
Photo: Screenshot from Instagram

In a heart-wrenching first public message that has reverberated across social media, Daniella Gilboa - who survived the October 7 attack and subsequent captivity - has shared her story of faith, survival, and gratitude. Speaking directly to a nation that held its breath for her return, Gilboa reveals the raw, powerful moments when she chose prayer over despair in a shelter under siege, and describes the profound emotion of finally reciting the traditional survivor's blessing in synagogue.

"Hi loved ones, what a surreal year I've been through and I don't know where to start... I think first of all I want to say thank you ❤️ to everyone who supported my family for a year and three months, who didn't leave, didn't give up or lose hope for a moment. Thank you for waiting for me, thank you for not believing the terrible rumors, thank you for continuing to pray for me throughout this entire period. This was my last request before I was kidnapped. I didn't want to despair and say goodbye, so instead I prayed and believed with all my heart that my end was not there, in that shelter. I prayed for all the girls with me for half an hour because I felt I couldn't do anything better than that at the time. I couldn't hold onto the security that maybe the army would give me and maybe come to protect me, I couldn't hold onto the security that maybe the shelter would give me, because it wasn't just about missiles, I couldn't hold onto the few armed girls at that moment either. I knew the only thing that could save us was faith. Yesterday morning, Karina, Naama, Liri, Agam and I recited Birkat HaGomel blessing in the synagogue. This is the moment I've been waiting for since the day I survived October 7th. To thank God who, against all odds, saved us from the most terrible thing of all.

Much love,

Daniella"


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