Bullet Lodged Since Oct. 7 Removed from Ex-Hostage Daniella Gilboa's Ankle

In a moment filled with symbolism, healing, and hope, former Hamas hostage Daniella Gilboa underwent surgery this week to remove a bullet that had been lodged in her ankle since the horrific attacks of October 7, 2023.

Gilboa, who endured 477 days in Hamas captivity, shared the milestone on Instagram, calling July 10—her surgery date “one of the happiest days of my life.” The irony of the date wasn’t lost on her. “If you look at the date the way Americans do, it flips and becomes a symbol of the worst day of my life,” she wrote, referencing the date of the brutal terror assault that shook Israel and left over a thousand dead.

The surgery took place at Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus at 6:30 a.m. the same hour Hamas terrorists first crossed into Israel that dark morning. Gilboa’s ability to find profound meaning in the timing reflects her inner strength and unshakable spirit.

In her post, she revealed that she had delayed the procedure intentionally. The embedded bullet, a brutal artifact of her trauma, had become a reminder of her survival. “It was a daily reminder of how grateful I am to God for protecting me. And how grateful I am to the angelic friends who have taken care of me every single day since.”

Gilboa said she finally scheduled the surgery two weeks ago after more than a year of imagining its removal. “For a year and four months, Karina, Doron, and Naama heard me endlessly fantasizing about how badly I wanted it to come out,” she wrote, referring to fellow hostages and comrades from the October 7 attack.

Her post concluded with heartfelt thanks to the Beilinson medical team not just for the surgery, but for their humanity. She highlighted how staff regularly stepped outside to hold up photos of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza, ensuring the world doesn’t forget those still in captivity.

Daniella Gilboa’s story is not just one of suffering, but of faith, friendship, and renewal. In the face of unimaginable pain, she has chosen to heal body and soul.

Share this story. Subscribe to our newsletter for more on the stories of courage, healing, and hope emerging from Israel.