Kidnapping of Naama Levy

Last updated

Contents

Kidnapping of Naama Levy
Part of the Israel–Hamas war
Naama Levy has been released 25-1-2025.jpg
Naama Levy in January 2025, immediately after her release from captivity, thanking the People of Israel who fought for her freedom.
Location Nahal Oz, Southern District, Israel
Coordinates 31°28′21″N34°29′50″E / 31.47250°N 34.49722°E / 31.47250; 34.49722
Date7 October 2023;15 months ago (2023-10-07)
Attack type
 Kidnapping, mass murder
Accused Hamas

Naama Levy (Hebrew : נעמה לוי; born 22 June 2004 [1] [2] ) is an Israeli soldier serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). On the morning of 7 October 2023, during the Hamas attack on Israel, she was abducted from the IDF surveillance base at Nahal Oz near the Gaza–Israel barrier.

Later that day, Hamas released footage on social media showing Levy in the Gaza Strip, hands tied behind her back, as armed militants dragged her from the trunk of a Jeep and forced her inside the vehicle. Images from the footage have come to symbolize sexual violence against Israeli women during the attacks.

On 22 May 2024, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum released footage compiled from Hamas militants' bodycams, showing Levy and other female soldiers being held captive at the surveillance base on the morning of 7 October. The families approved the release of the footage partly to pressure the Israeli government to resume hostage negotiations with Hamas.

On 25 January 2025, Levy was released as part of the 2025 Israel-Hamas war ceasefire, after spending 477 days in captivity. [3]

Biography

Born in Israel on 22 June 2004, Levy was raised in India where she attended an American school. [4] She has three siblings. [5] Her mother, Ayelet Levy Shachar, is a doctor with the Israeli women's national football team. Levy is a triathlete and an alumna of Hands of Peace, which promotes peace among Israeli and Palestinian youth. [6] [7] She also volunteered for organizations including the Red Cross and the UN. At the time of the 7 October attacks, she had just begun her service in the Israel Defense Forces. [8]

Abduction

Missing poster of Levy that was hung in Israel during her time as a hostage Street installation with photos of the kidnapped - Iron Swords War 2023 04.jpg
Missing poster of Levy that was hung in Israel during her time as a hostage

During the 7 October attacks, Levy was acting as an IDF observer [9] in the Nahal Oz kibbutz military base, [10] which was attacked by Hamas militants. Levy's last communication with her family was at 6:55 a.m. when she texted her mother confirming she was in a safe room. [11] Further messages sent to Levy 20 to 30 minutes later went unanswered. [5] [12]

Footage posted by Hamas later that day (according to Reuters), and widely circulated online, showed Levy in the Gaza Strip, barefoot, bruised, and cut, with her hands tied behind her back, and wounds on her ankles. She was filmed being taken from the trunk of a Jeep and pushed into the interior of the vehicle by armed militants while bystanders chanted "God is Great" in Arabic (Arabic: الله أكبر ). [8] Her mother, who did not see the video until at least a day after the attack, stated that she was unsure the disheveled and bloody woman in the video was her daughter. However, Levy's father confirmed the footage was of Naama Levy. [13]

Images from the initial video of Levy's abduction have come to symbolize sexual and gender-based violence in the 7 October attack on Israel. Feminist activists in cities such as London and São Paulo have dressed in bloodied sweatpants like those worn by Levy in the footage. [14] [15]

On 22 May 2024, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum released around three minutes of footage from Hamas militants' bodycams on the morning of 7 October. The video shows the militants taking Levy and other female soldiers hostage at Nahal Oz. Several of the women, including Levy, are seen with bloodied faces. [16] The hostages' families approved the release of the video to show how the women were treated and to pressure the Israeli government to resume hostage negotiations. [17] [18] [19] In the video, Levy pleads with the militants in English, saying: "I have friends in Palestine." [19] The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he was "shocked" by the footage and promised to do everything possible to bring the remaining hostages home. [19]

On 16 July 2024, in a further bid to renew pressure for a hostage deal, Levy's family approved the release of a photo from the early days of her captivity, showing her with a black eye and a swollen face. [20]

Efforts to secure Levy's release

Israeli children coloring a mandala in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to commemorate Levy's 20th birthday. According to released hostages Levy drew mandalas in captivity 112760 naama levy - 20th birthday PikiWiki Israel.jpg
Israeli children coloring a mandala in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to commemorate Levy's 20th birthday. According to released hostages Levy drew mandalas in captivity

In a December 2023 interview with the Israeli channel i24 News, her father Yoni Levy requested the assistance of international organizations. He stated that while Levy had volunteered for and worked with organizations such as the Red Cross, the UN, and women's organizations, those organizations had not intervened on behalf of Levy and other female hostages. [21] He expressed outrage at the perceived silence of Michelle Obama, who had previously campaigned for the release of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, over her silence concerning the abduction of Levy and other women. [10]

On International Women's Day in 2024, her mother Ayelet Levy Shachar spoke at the Israel Hayom gala in Tel Aviv. She reminded attendees that her daughter and other female hostages were still being held in Gaza as of March 2024. [6] Levy Shachar also wrote an op-ed criticizing international organizations and women's groups for not acknowledging or condemning sexual violence committed during the 7 October attacks. Another opinion piece about Levy and her abduction and status as a hostage was written by Levy Shachar and published in February 2024. [22]

Performance protest in Hostages Square commemorating the 16 IDF observers who were killed and the five (including Levy) who were kidnapped. 'not closing our eyes' - in Hostages Square 02.jpg
Performance protest in Hostages Square commemorating the 16 IDF observers who were killed and the five (including Levy) who were kidnapped.

In March 2024, her brother Amit Levy shared her story during a meeting with the United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary Group, led by MPs Stephen Crabb and Margaret Hodge, organized in partnership with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Family members of other hostages also told their stories. [23] The hashtag "#METOOUNLESSYOURAJEW" has become associated with Jewish women who are or have been held captive and reported to have endured sexual violence due to the 7 October 2023 attacks. [24] [25]

Protest march on Levy's 20th birthday that ended at Hostages Square 112754 naama levy - 20th birthday PikiWiki Israel.jpg
Protest march on Levy's 20th birthday that ended at Hostages Square

It was reported at the end of March 2024 by Levy Shachar that some hostages who were released during the November 2023 cease fire and resulting prisoner exchange that they had come into contact with Levy and while she had been wounded in the legs, she was walking and talking under her own power. Her comments came before a meeting with Netanyahu and other family members of the remaining female IDF soldiers still held by Hamas, where she expected to push for negotiations about a potential hostage deal. [26]

In April 2024, her aunt and others protested near the Knesset to bring attention to the plight of the remaining hostages including Levy, and stated that the most urgent issue was to bring the hostages home. [27]

Release

Naama Levy, flanked by her parents, following her release on January 25, 2025. Four female Israeli soldiers being held hostage have been released, January 2025. XV.jpg
Naama Levy, flanked by her parents, following her release on January 25, 2025.

On 24 January 2025, Hamas announced that Levy would be released on the next day as part of the hostage exchange during the ceasefire. Levy and three other female IDF soldiers were due to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel the next day. [28]

On 25 January, Levy and fellow IDF observers Liri Albag, Karina Ariev and Daniella Gilboa were handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross in Palestine Square in Gaza. Shortly thereafter, they were transferred to the IDF by the Red Cross and reunited with their families in Israel. [29] [30] Video and photography from the hand over show Levy and the three other observers wearing military uniforms being paraded by Hamas militants, and then brought on stage to be photographed smiling and waving to the crowd. [31]

In a public social media post after her release, Levy offered thanks to IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians stating that during her captivity she was able to see them fighting for her. While she had been reportedly alone for the first 50 days of captivity, she indicated that she was later held with other IDF observers and they had supported one another through their captivity, release and in civilian life. [32] [33]

Following her release, it was reported that Levy and other members of her all-female IDF observer unit had documented, prior to being taken hostage, unusual practice raids and drills by Hamas taking place on the Gaza side of the border fence. Their warnings were ignored by officials within Israel. [34]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilad Shalit</span> Israeli soldier (born 1986)

Gilad Shalit is a former MIA soldier of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) who, on 25 June 2006, was captured by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid via tunnels near the Israeli border. Hamas held him captive for over five years until his release on 18 October 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Gaza cross-border raid</span> Palestinian attack on Israeli border post

The 2006 Gaza cross-border raid, known by Palestinian militants as Operation Dispersive Illusion was an armed incursion carried out by seven or eight Gazan Palestinian militants on 25 June 2006 who attacked Israel Defense Forces (IDF) positions near the Kerem Shalom Crossing through an attack tunnel. In the attack, two IDF soldiers and two Palestinian militants were killed, four IDF soldiers were wounded, one of whom was Gilad Shalit, who was captured and taken to the Gaza Strip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hannibal Directive</span> Controversial Israeli military protocol

The Hannibal Directive, also translated as Hannibal Procedure or Hannibal Protocol, is the name of a controversial procedure used by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers by enemy forces. According to one version, it says that "the kidnapping must be stopped by all means, even at the price of striking and harming our own forces." It was introduced in 1986, after a number of abductions of IDF soldiers in Lebanon and subsequent controversial prisoner exchanges. The full text of the directive was never published, and until 2003, Israeli military censorship forbade any discussion of the subject in the press. The directive has been changed several times, and in 2016 Gadi Eizenkot ordered the formal revocation of the standing directive and the reformulation of the protocol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova music festival massacre</span> 2023 massacre in southern Israel

On 7 October 2023, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian nationalist political organization Hamas, initiated a sudden attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. As part of the attack, 364 individuals, mostly civilians, were killed and many more wounded at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, an open-air music festival during the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret near kibbutz Re'im. Hamas also took 40 people hostage, and men and women were reportedly subject to sexual and gender-based violence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kfar Aza massacre</span> Attack on Kfar Aza kibbutz, Israel

On 7 October 2023, around 70 Hamas militants attacked Kfar Aza, a kibbutz about 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) from the border with the Gaza Strip, massacring residents and abducting several hostages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza war hostage crisis</span> Hostages taken into Gaza, 2023–present

On 7 October 2023, as part of the Hamas-led attack on Israel at the beginning of the Gaza war, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups abducted 251 people from Israel to the Gaza Strip, including children, women, and elderly people. Almost half of the hostages are foreign nationals or have multiple citizenships, and some hostages were Negev Bedouins. The precise ratio of soldiers and civilians among the captives is unknown. The captives are likely being held in different locations in the Gaza Strip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nir Oz attack</span> 2023 massacre in Israel

On 7 October 2023, as part of the surprise attack on Israel, Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, led by Hamas, invaded the Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel. They killed scores of kibbutz residents, burned homes, and abducted civilians. According to the Israeli military, up to 150 militants participated in the massacre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip</span> Israeli military operation since 2023

The Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip is a major part of the Gaza war. Starting on 7 October 2023, immediately after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, it began bombing the Gaza Strip; on 13 October, Israel began ground operations in Gaza, and on 27 October, a full-scale invasion was launched. Israel's campaign has four stated goals: to destroy Hamas, to free the hostages, to ensure Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, and to return displaced residents of Northern Israel. More than a year after the invasion, fighting in the Gaza Strip halted with the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on 19 January 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attack on Holit</span> 2023 massacre in Israel

On 7 October 2023, the Hamas Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades attacked Holit, a kibbutz close to the border fence with the Gaza Strip, as part of a surprise attack on Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nahal Oz attack</span> 2023 Hamas attack in Israel

The Nahal Oz attack was an assault on the kibbutz of Nahal Oz and the adjacent military base near the northern Gaza Strip on the morning of 7 October 2023 as part of a 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. In the attack, more than 60 Israeli soldiers and fifteen civilians were killed. Some soldiers and eight civilians were kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip. The IDF claims that several dead bodies were also taken to the Gaza Strip after being killed at the base or kibbutz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nir Yitzhak attack</span> 2023 fatal attack by Hamas in Israel

On 7 October 2023, the Hamas Nuseirat Battalion attacked Nir Yitzhak, a kibbutz close to the border fence with the Gaza Strip, as part of a surprise attack on Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidnapping of Noa Argamani</span> Israeli hostage taken by Hamas in 2023

On 7 October 2023, Noa Argamani, an Israeli woman, was abducted by Hamas during the Re'im music festival massacre, part of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. In one of the first Hamas videos released of the massacre, she was seen being taken away on a motorcycle as she yelled, "Don't kill me!" Her arms were outstretched toward her boyfriend Avinatan Or, who was also kidnapped. The footage of her kidnapping became a symbol of the hostage crisis and led to Argamani being described as "the face of the Nova music festival hostages".

During the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israeli women, girls, and men were reportedly subject to sexual violence, including rape and sexual assault by Hamas or other Gazan militants. The extent of sexual violence perpetuated by militants or whether sexual violence occurred at all during the attacks is disputed. Initially said to be "dozens" by Israeli authorities, they later clarified they could not provide a number. The militants involved in the attack are accused of having committed acts of gender-based violence, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Hamas has denied that its fighters committed any sexual assaults, and has called for an impartial international investigation into the accusations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidnapping of the Bibas family</span> Kidnapped Israeli family in 2023 Israel-Hamas war

On 7 October 2023, as part of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the Nir Oz attack, the Palestinian Islamist militant organization Hamas abducted the Israeli-Argentinian/Peruvian Bibas family from the Nir Oz kibbutz: 9-month-old Kfir, 4-year-old Ariel, 32-year-old mother Shiri, and her 34-year-old husband Yarden. The youngest child, baby Kfir, was the youngest hostage taken in the 7 October 2023 attacks. Shiri's parents, who also lived on the kibbutz, were later found murdered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidnapping of Yarden Roman-Gat</span> Event during 2023 Hamas attack on Israel

The kidnapping of Yarden Roman-Gat occurred during the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza Strip hostage crisis. Yarden Roman-Gat, a 36-year-old woman who is a dual national of Germany and Israel, along with her husband Alon and their 3-year-old daughter Gefen, were abducted by Hamas militants from their home in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7, 2023, during the Be'eri massacre, and taken towards the Gaza Strip border. Yarden's act of self-sacrifice in saving her daughter during their escape attempt, and her subsequent two-month-long captivity in Gaza, garnered significant attention and an international campaign to release her and other hostages held in Gaza.

On 7 October 2023, Mia Schem, a French-Israeli woman, was abducted by Hamas during the Re'im music festival massacre, part of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Her abduction, a video of her in captivity in Gaza, and subsequent release on 30 November garnered international media attention, and she became a face of the hostage crisis during the Israel–Hamas war.

In specific cases there were incidents of friendly fire in the Gaza war. The vast majority of casualties in the conflict were killed by the opposing side, i.e. Israelis killed by Palestinian militants and Palestinians killed by the Israeli military. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as of May 2024, 49 of the 278 Israeli soldiers killed during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip were killed by friendly fire and in other accidents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rescue of Ori Megidish</span> Hostage rescue during Israel-Hamas war

The rescue of Ori Megidish was an Israel Defense Forces military operation on 30 October 2023 during the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza that led to the rescue of Israeli soldier Uri Magidish from Hamas imprisonment in Gaza to Israel. Megidish was rescued in a joint operation between the IDF and the Israeli Shin Bet, based on specific intelligence of her whereabouts. Two Hamas militants were killed during the operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mujahideen Brigades</span> Palestinian terrorist organization

Mujahideen Brigades are the armed wing of the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement. The brigades operate in the Occupied_Palestinian_territories of the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria or The West Bank,, an area known for violence and terrorism against Jews and Israelis in Israel.

References

  1. ↑ Izso, Lauren; Tawfeeq, Mohammed (22 June 2024). "Thousands gather in Tel Aviv to mark Naama Levy's 20th birthday while in Hamas captivity in Gaza". CNN. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  2. ↑ "Thousands of Israelis rally to mark hostage's birthday". Reuters. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "Four Israeli hostages released by Hamas during staged handover". www.bbc.com. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Naama's Story".
  5. 1 2 Gilbody-Dickerson, Claire (31 December 2023). "'Mum, don't watch this': Mother of teen taken by Hamas fears sexual violence". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  6. 1 2 "'Don't stop saying her name': Mother of Hamas captive speaks at Israel Hayom event". IsraelHayom. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "'I have friends in Palestine': Israeli hostage's plea to her Hamas captors lays bare yearning for peace". NBC News. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  8. 1 2 Campbell, Joseph (5 November 2023). "Israeli mother of Gaza hostage: 'I try to keep my thoughts on her'". Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Doron, Yaron (17 December 2023). "'No more room on the memorial': A high school copes with growing list of killed graduates". IsraelHayom. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 Mann, Niko (26 December 2023). "'I Am Disappointed': Father of Hamas Hostage Slams Michelle Obama for Being Silent About His Daughter's Kidnapping". Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "Taken captive: Naama Levy, Hands of Peace project alumnus". Times of Israel . 23 November 2023. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  12. ↑ Davis, Rebecca. "'Where the hell are you?'". www.australianjewishnews.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  13. ↑ Sukheja, Bhavya (9 December 2023). ""Am Helpless...": Mother Of Israeli Hostage Speaks Out, Pleads For Release". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "Protesters demand solidarity for raped Israeli women at feminist art event". The Jewish Chronicle. 27 January 2024. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024.
  15. ↑ Toueg, Gabriel (7 February 2024). "Bound and 'bloodied' girl shocks Brazilians into comprehending Hamas horrors". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024.
  16. ↑ Boxerman, Aaron (22 May 2024). "New footage is released of Hamas militants taking female soldiers hostage". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  17. ↑ Rubin, Shira (23 May 2024). "Families of Israeli female hostages release video showing their capture". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "Video shows Hamas abduction of female IDF spotters on Oct. 7". Israel Today. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 Manning, Lucy (23 May 2024). "Israeli hostage's family hopes video is reminder of need for deal". BBC News . Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  20. ↑ Families release images of 5 female troops from their first days held in Gaza
  21. ↑ Ben-David, Calev (6 December 2023). "Father of abducted teen, Naama Levy, pleads for international action amidst reports of dire conditions in Gaza". I24news. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  22. ↑ Levy, Ayelet (23 February 2024). "I wish I could tell those negotiating the fate of Israeli hostages: my daughter Naama is no bargaining chip". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  23. ↑ Jordan, Eliana (15 March 2024). "Brother of Naama Levy: 'I can't help feeling that I failed to keep her safe'". thejc.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  24. ↑ Jerenberg, Batya (25 March 2024). "Female hostage was kept as domestic slave – report". WIN. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  25. ↑ "Israel's Hostage Agony Is Only Beginning". hartman.org.il. 27 November 2023. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "Mother of Gaza hostage Naama Levy says daughter survived 'difficult things'". The Times of Israel. 31 March 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  27. ↑ "Aunt of hostage Naama Levy: Israelis must scream to bring them home". JNS. 7 April 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  28. ↑ "Hamas names four Israeli female soldier hostages to be freed in second swap". Reuters. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  29. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel. "Hostages Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag freed by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  30. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel. "Footage shows the 4 released hostages handed over by Red Cross to IDF troops". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  31. ↑ Hjelmgaard, Kim (25 January 2025). "'Wave of relief and joy': Four female Israeli hostages released by Hamas in prisoner swap". USA TODAY. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  32. ↑ Yosef, Eugenia (28 January 2025). "'I am finally at home': Freed Israeli hostage Naama Levy shares message". CNN. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  33. ↑ "'I saw how you were fighting for me!' Naama Levy shares first post since release from Gaza". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  34. ↑ McKernan, Bethan (25 January 2025). "'They survived hell': Israel hails the homecoming of freed female soldiers". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 27 January 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.