“Each time, I was certain it would be my last”: Former IDF hostage says Israeli airstrikes were among her greatest fears while held in Gaza.

An Israeli soldier previously held captive in Gaza has spoken out about the harrowing fear she endured—not just from her captors, but from Israeli airstrikes carried out during her time in captivity.

Na’ama Levy, one of five female IDF soldiers released in January as part of a ceasefire-hostage deal, shared her experience during a rally on Sunday at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, where families and supporters continue to call for the release of those still held in Gaza.

“They come without warning,” Levy said, describing the Israeli strikes. “First, you hear the whistles. You pray it won’t hit you. Then come the explosions—so loud they paralyze your body, and the ground trembles beneath you. Every time, I was sure it was the end. That fear was one of the worst things I experienced and, in many ways, what put me in the most danger.”

Levy recalled how a strike caused the building she was held in to partially collapse. “That was my reality. And it’s their reality now,” she said, referring to the hostages still trapped in Gaza. “Even at this moment, they’re hearing those same sounds—those whistles, those blasts—trembling, clinging to walls, praying they survive.”

Her emotional plea came as criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intensifies, particularly from hostage families who accuse the government of prioritizing military goals over the lives of those still in captivity.

Earlier this month, Netanyahu sparked outrage when he stated that defeating Israel’s enemies was a higher priority than securing the return of hostages. Levy directly countered that view: “There is no victory without bringing them home. None. There’s no way people in Israel really understand what we’re going through and still allow us to remain in Gaza.”

Levy’s fears echo those of other former hostages. In audio leaked to Israeli media earlier in the war, one released hostage reportedly told Netanyahu that their greatest fear wasn’t Hamas, but being killed by Israeli bombs and then blamed on Hamas.

Levy’s comments come amid further controversy surrounding the appointment of Maj. Gen. David Zini as the new head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. Zini has reportedly voiced strong opposition to hostage deals, calling the conflict a “forever war,” according to Channel 12 News.

“If true, those are appalling remarks,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in a statement. “This is someone who may now hold the fate of the hostages in his hands.”

While Zini had limited involvement in hostage negotiations in his previous role, his new position gives him substantial influence in any future discussions with Hamas, raising concerns among families of those still held captive.

Meanwhile, international pressure on Israel to bring the war to an end is mounting. The U.K. has paused trade talks, while Canada and France have threatened sanctions. The European Union is reviewing its key trade agreement with Israel, signaling frustration over the continuation of the conflict amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Levy was among the first names to surface following the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, which marked the beginning of Israel’s war in Gaza. Her story has since become a symbol of the human cost of the conflict—and the urgency of bringing all remaining hostages home.