Or Levy Recounts 491 Days of Hamas Captivity, Starvation, and Wife's Murder

Or Levy, an Israeli man abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, was released in February 2025 after enduring 491 days of brutal captivity in Gaza. His harrowing ordeal included severe starvation, beatings, and being chained for extended periods, as he recently shared in public statements. Levy's release was bittersweet, as he learned upon his return that his wife, Einav Levy, was tragically murdered during the initial Hamas attack from which he was kidnapped.

Levy and his wife, Einav, were attending the Nova music festival when Hamas-led gunmen launched their assault. He was captured from a bomb shelter where they sought refuge, while Einav was killed in the same location. For the entirety of his captivity, Or Levy did not know his wife's fate, holding onto a slim hope that she had survived.

During his 491 days held by Hamas, Levy described living in "inhumane" conditions, often in tunnels. He and other captives survived on meager rations, sometimes as little as "one pita a day," totaling approximately 500-600 calories daily, leading to significant weight loss. His brother, Michael Levy, recounted to CNN that Hamas captors intentionally starved the hostages, eating well themselves and even laughing at the emaciated prisoners.

Levy detailed being chained for weeks, sometimes to other hostages, and denied basic necessities like clean water and natural light. He also described psychological torture, including constant threats, being told no one cared for them, and deliberate noise and lack of sleep. "You can’t really understand what it is to starve — day after day after day," he told the Young Israel of Woodmere synagogue.

Upon his release, Levy was reunited with his then three-year-old son, Almog, a moment he described as both the best and hardest of his life, as it was then he confirmed Einav's death. He credits his son and a mantra, "He who has a ‘why’ can bear any ‘how’," for his survival. Levy is now actively advocating for the release of the remaining hostages, stating that their continued captivity "haunts me in the night."