Latest news with #NaamaLevy
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Be the president of peace': Former hostages urge Trump to halt IDF Gaza occupation
In a new video, survivors of Hamas captivity and a grieving widow appeal to Trump, warning that ongoing fighting puts the remaining hostages at risk. Former hostages and the widow of an Israeli hostage who was killed in captivity appealed to US President Donald Trump in a video in English published on Thursday to support a comprehensive deal to end the Israel-Hamas War and secure the release of the 50 hostages still held by the terrorist group. The video, published by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, featured six survivors of captivity: Naama Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, Doron Steinbrecher, Sasha Troufanov, Arbel Yehoud, and Iair Horn, alongside Michal Lobanov, whose husband, Alexander Lobanov, was killed by Hamas in August. They thanked Trump for his role in bringing home 39 hostages, calling on him to act again. Several also said that the current expansion of the military campaign poses a direct threat to those still in captivity. 'We are here today because you chose to act,' Levy said. Ben Ami described his time underground in Gaza. 'It means endless hunger, constant fear, and darkness. Every day is a fight to stay alive.' Steinbrecher recalled moments of panic during her captivity. 'I remember hearing an explosion above my head and praying they wouldn't get too close,' she said. 'Every sound made my heart stop.' Troufanov said that continued fighting risks the lives of hostages. 'Every bullet, every strike, could be the one that ends their life.' Yehoud, whose partner is still held in Gaza, said she dreams of the day they are reunited. 'Every single one needs to come back home,' she said. Widow of Alexander Lobanov warns of dangers of continued of IDF activity Lobanov, whose husband was one of six hostages executed by Hamas last August, said her husband died after military pressure intensified. 'He came back to me in a coffin,' she said. 'President Trump, please act now before it's too late for them, too." Horn said Trump still has the opportunity to change the course of the conflict. 'You have the power to make history, to be the president of peace, the one who ended the war, ended the suffering, and brought every hostage home, including my little brother.' The video ended with all seven speakers chanting, 'Bring them home. Bring them home. Bring them home,' before Levy added, 'Seal the deal.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Former hostage Karina Ariev completes IDF service, five months after being freed from Gaza
Surviving Hamas captivity, Karina Ariev completes her service in the IDF and honors her fallen comrades in an emotional Instagram post. Former hostage Karina Ariev was discharged from the IDF after completing three years of service, according to a post from her Instagram on Monday. She spoke about how she wished it had been different, referring to the IDF observers who were killed on October 7, and said, 'I wish everyone was here.' Ariev had returned to the IDF to finish her service after being taken captive by Hamas on October 7 from the Nahal Oz base. On October 7, Ariev, who was taken hostage along with fellow IDF observers Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa, and Liri Albag, was able to repel a grenade that the terrorists had hurled at her. During the massacre, she pretended she was dead. However, a terrorist began pulling her hand to ascertain whether she was alive. After understanding that she was alive, the terrorists began handcuffing her and brought her to Gaza. 'I survived for my family and for my friends so that I could tell their stories, fight for them together with their families, and commemorate them,' she wrote. 'I was lucky to survive, and that's not something to take for granted. I will do everything to be worthy of it.' Within two weeks after their release from captivity, the five female observers who had been held hostage by Hamas had asked to resume their IDF service. However, Israeli media reported that the IDF said it was still too early and that the girls needed to rest and recuperate following their year and three months in captivity. At the end of June, former hostage Liri Albag's father, Eli, announced to Israeli media that she will return to the IDF five months after she was released from captivity.
Ottawa Citizen
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
At Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, a weekly ritual of grief, hope and community
Tel Aviv — Every Saturday night, scores of Israelis (along with some tourists) stream into the courtyard of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, which has become known as Hostages Square, to commune and to call for the return of people held captive in Gaza. Article content Article content As of last Saturday's rally, Hamas still held around 58 of its 251 initial hostages, some alive and some believed dead. Speakers at Hostages Square that night included former hostage Naama Levy and family members of other Hamas victims. Article content Article content 'In captivity, I saw thousands of people standing here, wrapped in flags, shouting, singing, holding pictures of the hostages — of my picture. It made me feel that I wasn't forgotten. That it wasn't over. That I would return,' Levy told the crowd, according to a translation. Article content Article content The hostages rally is actually one of two regular, well-attended Saturday night protests in Tel Aviv; the other, a kilometre away at Habima Square, is explicitly political: they want the 'corrupt government' of Benjamin Netanyahu gone. It's part of the same movement that began before October 7, protesting Netanyahu's proposals to limit judicial power, among other things. Article content As attendees flooded out of the square after last Saturday's rally, National Post editor-in-chief Rob Roberts spoke to Nili Gefen about why she comes. Article content Article content Article content I come here every Saturday, especially because at first we came because I thought it would make my government do something to bring them back. Now I come so the families don't feel so alone. Article content I don't know, after 600 days almost, I don't know if this will change what the government does, but I do hope the families don't feel so alone with their pain. Yeah, so it's important we come here, not only sometimes. September, when the six hostages were murdered, we came every night. You know, we have children, jobs and things like that, but this is a terrible, terrible reality that I hope will change soon for everybody.
Calgary Herald
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
At Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, a weekly ritual of grief, hope and community
Tel Aviv — Every Saturday night, scores of Israelis (along with some tourists) stream into the courtyard of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, which has become known as Hostages Square, to commune and to call for the return of people held captive in Gaza. Article content Article content As of last Saturday's rally, Hamas still held around 58 of its 251 initial hostages, some alive and some believed dead. Speakers at Hostages Square that night included former hostage Naama Levy and family members of other Hamas victims. Article content Article content 'In captivity, I saw thousands of people standing here, wrapped in flags, shouting, singing, holding pictures of the hostages — of my picture. It made me feel that I wasn't forgotten. That it wasn't over. That I would return,' Levy told the crowd, according to a translation. Article content Article content The hostages rally is actually one of two regular, well-attended Saturday night protests in Tel Aviv; the other, a kilometre away at Habima Square, is explicitly political: they want the 'corrupt government' of Benjamin Netanyahu gone. It's part of the same movement that began before October 7, protesting Netanyahu's proposals to limit judicial power, among other things. Article content As attendees flooded out of the square after last Saturday's rally, National Post editor-in-chief Rob Roberts spoke to Nili Gefen about why she comes. Article content Article content Article content I come here every Saturday, especially because at first we came because I thought it would make my government do something to bring them back. Now I come so the families don't feel so alone. Article content I don't know, after 600 days almost, I don't know if this will change what the government does, but I do hope the families don't feel so alone with their pain. Yeah, so it's important we come here, not only sometimes. September, when the six hostages were murdered, we came every night. You know, we have children, jobs and things like that, but this is a terrible, terrible reality that I hope will change soon for everybody. Article content You talk about first coming here to try to send a message to the government. Obviously, you don't think they've listened. What did you want the government to do?
Edmonton Journal
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
At Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, a weekly ritual of grief, hope and community
Article content Tel Aviv — Every Saturday night, scores of Israelis (along with some tourists) stream into the courtyard of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, which has become known as Hostages Square, to commune and to call for the return of people held captive in Gaza. As of last Saturday's rally, Hamas still held around 58 of its 251 initial hostages, some alive and some believed dead. Speakers at Hostages Square that night included former hostage Naama Levy and family members of other Hamas victims.
