Former Kansas City Chiefs players Nick Lowery and Tony Richardson recently visited Israel to advocate for the release of hostages held by Hamas. The trip, sponsored by Athletes for Israel, focused on raising awareness of the plight of over 100 individuals still captive, including 20-year-old Naama Levy. The former teammates emphasized their mission to combat antisemitism and support victims of terrorism through their platform as sports icons.
Levy, a surveillance soldier stationed near Gaza, was abducted on October 7, 2023, during a Hamas attack that left 15 of her fellow soldiers dead. She has not been heard from since December, when other released hostages reported seeing her in Gaza’s tunnels, injured by grenade shrapnel. Levy’s family described her as a compassionate, peace-focused individual who volunteered with children and participated in initiatives promoting Israeli-Palestinian cooperation.
Lowery, a devout Christian, highlighted the personal and spiritual impact of the trip, which included visits to significant Israeli landmarks such as the Western Wall and the Sea of Galilee. Lowery and Richardson also met with Israeli officials, IDF soldiers, and families of hostages. They visited Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, where they observed a memorial for the abducted individuals and met Levy’s father and brother.
In addition to advocating for hostages, the pair comforted victims of a Hezbollah rocket attack in Majdal Shams that killed 12 children in 2024. Lowery and his group played soccer with local children at the attack site, briefly easing their grief.
Lowery has committed to continuing his efforts, citing his family history of standing against antisemitism. He described the Israelis’ resilience and determination to maintain their way of life despite ongoing threats.