Hamas hostage survivor shares her story after being held captive for nearly 2 months

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Hostages were released by Hamas after months in capacity.

And one of those hostages is sharing her story of survival after she says she was taken during the October 7, 2023 attack during the Nova music festival in the desert between Gaza and Israel.

After 54 days in captivity an Israeli jewelry designer says she is now free.

But she says she will not allow her story to end there.

A story of hope, survival, and fate.

It’s those words that Moran Stela Yani held to during 54 days of captivity behind the enemy lines in Gaza.

Tears from the audience as they listened to Yani’s story of the day she was taken while selling her jewelry at the Supernova Music festival. She says it was her first venue as a jewelry designer, a dream she had finally made come true.

“29 minutes later, after that beautiful moment 2 rockets in the sky, and I am sure that you have heard some many stories about that day, for some of my friends those were fireworks, I had one severe panic attack, where I was trying to gain the breath to yell rockets,” said Yani.

It’s the days to follow where she says she would be beaten, starved, and locked in rooms full of lice and disease. Her time in captivity has left more than just an emotional mark. She says she now must wear hearing devices. She lists the physical trauma saying she had broken both legs, lost most of her hair, and lost a good amount of weight.

She says that even still, throughout those days, her God made himself known through signs that he was with her and watching over her.

“I know it is very twisted to say, saved in the middle of Gaza but I was counting the very miracles that happened to me that day,” said Yani.

After 54 days away from her family, she was released back to her home country of Israel and back to her family.

Now, she continues to travel the world and share her story with those who will listen.

“When I am asked to sum up my time in captivity, it is 3 things, faith, 100% faith, but it is faith, good values, and mind of body,” said Yani.

As Moran looks back on her time as a hostage she says it has made her grow closer to her God, and love and respect life as it is.