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More than 400 days have passed since my then 19-year-old daughter Naama was taken hostage in Gaza. Naama is a fun-loving teenager who is loved by everyone. She embodies the values of kindness, tolerance and compassion, volunteering at a kindergarten for asylum seeker children and building bridges between Israeli and Palestinian children through the organization Hands of Peace. I’m working to build it up.
The world saw the Hamas video showing armed terrorists forcing her to witness the killing, then brutally dragging a beaten and bloody Naama along with six of her friends into the trunk of a jeep and taking them to Gaza. It’s been a long time since that dreadful Saturday. their friends.
Naama Levi has been held hostage for more than a year. (Hostage/Missing Family Forum)
The unforgettable images of that day still torment me with a sense of helplessness that I had previously only felt in nightmares. It is understood that she was injured and that she and the other 100 hostages remain in grave danger. The freed hostages confirmed our worst fears about violence, physical and sexual abuse, starvation, and the darkness of underground tunnels. Now that the bitter cold of winter has set in, their chances of survival under these inhumane conditions are even more bleak.
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Naama recently spent her 20th birthday — a milestone for young women taking confident steps into adulthood — surrounded by the Hamas terrorists who kidnapped her in her pajamas more than 400 days earlier. Spent time in underground tunnels.
A glimmer of hope came last November when 105 hostages, mostly women and children, were freed and reunited with their families as part of the first and only hostage release agreement. But Nama was not among them. Since then, despite multiple opportunities for additional deals, each failed negotiation resulted in missed opportunities, days of separation, and nights of uncertainty.
Naama Levi’s mother describes her as a fun-loving and kind person. (Dr. Ayelet Levi Chahar)
Not a second went by that my family and I didn’t fight to bring Nama home. Every morning begins with the same desperate question. How can we help her? We are fortunate to have tremendous support from our community, friends, family, and co-workers, which allows us to somehow maintain some semblance of normalcy amidst this overwhelming chaos. You can. This is essential for our daily existence.
For me, there is another important anchor. It’s the patient. As a family doctor, my job is to listen to my patients’ concerns and alleviate their pain. During this dire time, my clinic became a sanctuary of purpose and stability. I’ve found that dealing with other people’s difficulties helps alleviate my own personal pain.
When we first started our fight as a hostage family, we wondered if we would be able to hold back the patient’s pain while our daughter endured real suffering. Some patients tiptoe into my exam room, apologizing for any inconvenience they may have caused me, such as with a sore throat. In fact, my ability to treat them has actually helped me deal with my own conflicts.
Families of Hamas hostages still held in Gaza, like Naama Levi, pray that Americans will not forget the plight of their loved ones. (Dr. Ayelet Levi Chahar)
Many people understand the physical and psychological effects of prolonged confinement under extreme and extremely difficult conditions. Perhaps in my case, clinical knowledge and medical training make it even more difficult. It’s not easy, but you have to be as selective as possible about where you direct your thoughts. Continuing to think about the “unknown” only adds to the difficulty.
Unfortunately, the voice of the global medical community remains largely unheard. The October 7 massacre, the health conditions of the hostages, and the lack of medical access violate all international standards and laws. I have met several times with both the President of the Red Cross and the President of the WHO and was shocked to find that the dire situation of the hostages does not seem to be their priority. All they offered was a hug and a little empathy. We cannot afford to wait while international organizations remain silent.
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I always imagine the moment Naama comes back and dream of our life together after this nightmare is over. These visions feel very real and very tangible. As I walk around the neighborhood with Naama’s sister, I can’t help but think of their reunion. Every step, every street corner, I imagine us together after she returns from that cursed place. Until then, I will speak to Naama in my heart and tell her to be strong and that she is a true survivor and that after all this hardship and suffering there are better days ahead and that she is finally free. It reminds me of what is waiting for me.
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Time is running out. I implore the current and incoming U.S. administrations to do everything in their power to use every means of influence at their disposal. These lives are in perfect condition. To the American people who have always championed justice and human dignity: Your voice matters now more than ever. Please do not erase these hostages from your consciousness. Don’t let their suffering become yesterday’s news. Your support and advocacy could mean the difference between life and death for my daughter and other hostages.
