Guy Gilboa-Dalal Expresses Gratitude to Israelis After Release ‘It’s Good to Be Home’

In his first public statement since returning from nearly two years of Hamas captivity, former hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal shared a heartfelt message of gratitude on social media, saying: “I’m home. It is good to be home.”

Gilboa-Dalal, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, appeared in a short Instagram video on Wednesday, thanking the Israeli public for its “hope, prayers, and unwavering support.”

“I want to thank the people of Israel for the past two years, where you hoped and prayed that we'd return,” he said, visibly emotional.

He offered special appreciation to those who stood vigil at Hostage Square, backed the hostages’ families, and demanded their safe return. “You’re heroes,” he said. “I also want to thank all the soldiers who served during these difficult times.”

Gilboa-Dalal extended condolences to families of fallen soldiers and the 11 deceased hostages whose remains are still held in Gaza. “The fight is not over yet, and I hope it ends soon,” he concluded.

His return marks one of the most poignant moments of the ongoing hostage crisis. On the day of his abduction, Hamas released footage of him bound inside a tunnel. His brother Gal later described the chaos of their separation during the massacre: “Seven and a half hours of running, hiding, and gunfire. My brother wasn’t answering.”

During captivity, Gilboa-Dalal and fellow hostage Evyatar David were subjected to psychological torment, including being forced to watch the release of other hostages after falsely being promised their own freedom.

David, who was freed months earlier, commented on the video: “What a star.”

Gilboa-Dalal's message comes amid a renewed national focus on the plight of hostages still held in Gaza, as pressure mounts on Hamas to return their remains and for Israel to bring all missing individuals home. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.