‘Feeling better by the day’: Freed hostage Naama Levy issues 1st message, thanks public

Former hostage Naama Levy sends out her first message to the public since her release on Saturday.

“After 477 days, I’m at home at last,” she writes on Instagram, according to Hebrew media. “I am safe and protected, surrounded by family and friends, and feeling better by the day.”

Speaking about her time in captivity, Levy says that for the first 50 days after being kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists on October 7, 2023, she was mostly kept alone.

“After that, I stayed with my friends” — four fellow IDF lookout soldiers abducted with her, three of whom were released with her, as well as other female hostages — “who gave me strength and hope,” she adds. “We strengthened each other until the release day and also after it.”

She says the released troops are waiting for their colleague Agam Berger, who is slated for release on Thursday, and for the rest of the captives.

“It is important to me to thank IDF fighters and all the Israeli people — already in captivity I saw how you were fighting for me. Thank you everyone, I love you,” she concludes.