A pair of NFL legends and former Kansas Metropolis Chiefs teammates just lately traveled to Israel to press the case for Israeli and American hostages held captive by Hamas.
Nick Lowery, one of many league’s all-time biggest placekickers, and former star fullback Tony Richardson returned from the five-day journey, sponsored by Athletes for Israel, earlier this month. Weeks later, a diplomatic breakthrough resulted within the launch of three hostages and the promise of extra to come back. Lowery, the Chiefs’ all-time main scorer and, like Richardson, a member of the crew’s Corridor of Fame, informed Fox Information Digital that making a distinction off the sphere is extra necessary than what he achieved in his illustrious gridiron profession.
ISRAEL RELEASES 90 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AS PART OF CEASE-FIRE DEAL TO FREE HOSTAGES
“What’s a Corridor of Famer?” stated Lowery, who performed school soccer at Dartmouth and went on to earn a graduate diploma from Harvard. “There’s one on the sphere, after which there’s your contribution to your group. Ultimately, that’s your legacy.”
Amit Levy holds up an image of his sister, Naama, in entrance of the U.S. Capitol on the March to Convey Them House on Dec. 8. 2024. (Leigh Vogel for the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board)
The 68-year-old Lowery’s focus as of late is on combating antisemitism and racism, and advocating for the discharge of Hamas hostages, corresponding to Naama Levy, 20. Levy was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base, lower than a kilometer from Gaza, the place she was stationed as a surveillance soldier on October 7, 2023. The Occasions of Israel reported that 15 surveillance troopers have been killed that day, and 6 have been taken hostage.
Footage launched by Hamas reveals a terrorist dragging Levy by her hair right into a Jeep. Her arms have been sure, her ankles minimize, her face bleeding and her sweatpants have been blood-stained.
Lowery said in a video posted to social media, “Naama can’t converse. However we, athletes of the world, should converse for her now.”
Lowery is a part of the #SportSpeaksUp marketing campaign, led by Eric Rubin, CEO of Challenge Max, a motion devoted to combating racism, antisemitism and intolerance by sports activities. The marketing campaign is supported by Athletes for Israel, a nonprofit group that brings legendary sports activities figures to the Holy Land.
Naama Levy enjoys operating in triathlons, like her father and grandfather.
In Israel, Lowery met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana and Israel Protection Forces troopers. He additionally visited the location of the Nova music pageant bloodbath, which he referred to as “overwhelming.” He stated, “There are the images of those individuals, energetic, two thirds of them girls, completely lovely, energetic, and there have been flowers and choices of affection and help for his or her reminiscence.”
Lowery was re-baptized on the Sea of Galilee and visited the Western Wall, which he stated was a deeply non secular expertise.
“As a Christian, merely touching the wall, it feels such as you’re connecting to God,” Lowery stated.
Lowery and Richardson additionally took a tour of Hostage Sq. in Tel Aviv, the place they noticed an prolonged dinner desk with 200 seats adorned to honor every hostage. The chair for Levy was adorned with flowers.
They sat with Levy’s father, Yoni, and her brother, Amit, 22. Lowery stated Yoni Levy spoke of how a lot his daughter likes to deliver gentle and laughter to individuals, her imaginative and prescient to turn out to be a peacemaker, and her robust will and aggressive spirit.
Amit Levy informed Fox Information Digital that he may inform Lowery loved listening to about his sister.
“I feel everybody who hears about her can really feel her power and is de facto impressed by her,” Amit Levy stated.
Levy is a fun-loving teenager who grew up in Israel and India and is shut together with her household, which additionally consists of her mom, who’s the physician for the Israeli nationwide soccer crew; 16-year-old sister, Michal; and brother, Omri, 12, based on Amit Levy. He stated his sister loves attending events and laughing with associates, along with being “a really ethical woman” with a caring nature, dedicated to serving to others and advocating for peace.
Levy was a diplomacy main in highschool and later volunteered as soon as every week at a kindergarten for African refugees in southern Israel for 10 months.
“She had a terrific reference to the kids there,” Amit Levy recalled.
Naama Levy volunteered at a kindergarten for African refugees in southern Israel.
Levy is an idealist who participated within the “Arms of Peace” delegation that inspired Israeli and Palestinian youth to work collectively to create change, based on her brother.
“I’d inform her that possibly in sure factors she could be a bit naïve, as a result of the world generally isn’t such a pleasing place,” he stated.
He additionally recalled how, as an elementary college pupil, his sister used to awaken their dad and mom at 5 a.m. to take her to triathlon competitions, like their father and grandfather, who continues to compete as he approaches the age of 80.
The final time her household obtained information about Levy was in December 2023, when newly launched feminine hostages recounted seeing her within the tunnels beneath Gaza. “They stated she was injured from grenade shrapnel nonetheless in her leg, as a result of there have been grenades thrown at her and her associates on the bomb shelter on October 7,” Amit Levy stated.
It has been practically 500 days since Levy and greater than 100 others have been kidnapped. Amit Levy described how the launched hostages “may really feel her power and her superb persona from the quick time they received to satisfy her,” which gave him and his household “air to breathe.”
Nonetheless, there have been no subsequent reviews about her.
“I really feel so honored to know these individuals. They’re in my coronary heart now.” – Nick Lowery, former NFL star
Levy’s members of the family discover hope by reminding themselves of how robust she is “bodily and particularly mentally” and that she is aware of her mission is to outlive.
Lowery additionally visited the soccer area within the Druze city of Majdal Shams within the Golan Heights, the place 12 Druze youngsters and youngsters have been killed, and no less than 42 injured by a Hezbollah rocket on July 27, 2024. There, Lowery comforted Jwan Ibraheem, a 13-year-old boy who was crying as a result of he blamed himself for not with the ability to save his good friend who was killed.
Rubin described how the group went onto the sphere the place tragedy struck and began taking part in soccer with the children, and instantly, even when only for a second, they forgot about their unhappiness and grief. He stated it felt like half of the city got here out and “the darkness evaporated.”
Lowery marveled on the resilience of the Israelis he met, characterizing their collective perspective as “nobody’s going to take my gentle.” Even proper after air raids, individuals have been browsing and having cocktails on the seashore, he famous.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Lowery stated that standing up for Jewish individuals is in his “emotional DNA,” as a result of his grandmother documented atrocities on the Dachau focus camp in Germany. He’s devoted to bringing Jews and Christians collectively, and he and Rubin expressed how they’re dedicated to persevering with to satisfy with these households.
“I really feel so honored to know these individuals. They’re in my coronary heart now,” Lowery stated. “Perhaps soccer is a troublesome sport, however that is an important work we have ever achieved…. We’re bonded for all times.”
Source link