Hamas liberated four female Israeli army soldiers on Saturday as part of hostage -taking with prisoners, more than a year after women were captured during Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
In a choreographed release, the four hostages wore military tiredness as they walked on a scene in the city of Gaza. They were shaking and smiling at a crowd that cheerful, smiling at each other as Hamas fighters with balaclavs surrounded them.
The release of hostages is part of a 42 -day ceasefire agreement that came into force on Sunday, interrupting the battles between Israel and Hamas. Hamas agreed to gradually release 33 of the nearly 100 hostages left in return for more than 1,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and a partial Israeli retirement.
The hostages were recent recruits, working as “observers” for the Israeli army, citing suspicious activities beyond the border. During the Hamas -led attack, fighters stormed the Nahal Oz military base in Israel, killing more than 50 soldiers and kidnapped the women who were teenagers at that time, and three other female soldiers.
In May, the Israeli army released a three -minute -old edited video collection, verified by the New York Times, which shows Palestinian fighters, some with Hamas ribbons, to tie the hands of five women, including the four who were released on Saturday. The video was recorded by a body cameras worn by Hamas fighters who were kidnapped, according to the host and missing families forum, which represents relatives of many of the captives.
Here’s what else we know about the four liberated hostages.
Liri Albag
Ms Albag, who dreamed of becoming an architect and interior designer, joined the Israeli army shortly after graduating from the Gymnasium, according to a statement by the Homer Family forum.
Her family expressed relief and joy that saw her released. “Far from what I expected, it looks alive,” said Ruhama Albag on live television. “She is happy, she shakes her hand, her spirit unbreakable.”
In January, Hamas’ military wing released a 19 -year -old albag video now, talking about three and a half minutes, in which she said she was held for more than 450 days.
In a statement at that time, Ms Albag’s family said that her “serious psychological discomfort” was evident in the video and asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other leaders to “make decisions as if you were your own children”.
“It’s just tens of kilometers away, but for 456 days we didn’t get home,” the family said.
Karina Ariev
Ms. Ariev, 20, is a daughter of immigrants from Ukraine and her family described her as “the connective power” between friends and family, the family’s forum said.
She phoned her parents during the attack, describing fighters who launched weapons and rockets and told them he loved them, according to Israeli media. Her family later found a Hamas video published on social media that showed Mrs. Ariev and two other women in a jeep, with her face bleeding, they said.
In August, Ms. Ariev’s older sister, Sasa Ariev, told an event in Jerusalem that she would move home after the October 7th attack to help her struggling parents who felt more helpless.
Mrs Ariev’s sister said that the hostage crisis is haunting her. “How can I sleep when we didn’t manage to bring Karina and all the other hostages home?” She said. “How can I sleep when I’m in my bed and it’s hostage?”
Daniela Gilboa
Daniella Gilboa, 20, is from Petah Tikva, in central Israel. At the time of her abduction, Ms. Gilboa was studying piano and hoping to play professionally one day, the forum said.
In July, Mrs. Gilboo’s family posted a video made by Hamas she had received months earlier, which showed her and Mrs. Ariev in captivity.
In an interview with Maariv, an Israeli newspaper, Mrs Gilboa’s father’s father said the family felt mixed emotions for the video. “In her family, there is a feeling of relief along with a feeling of frustration,” she allegedly said.
Naama levy
Naama Levy, who is also 20 years old, is a triathlete who grew up in Raanana, a lush city north of Tel Aviv, the forum said.
She sent a message to her mother from a safe room on the day of the attack, according to a website focusing on the campaign to release her. “I have never heard of that,” he wrote.
A Hamas video with her transfer to Gaza was released on social media shortly after the attack.
In an interview about a documentary on sexual violence during the attack, Ayelet Levy Sachar, Naama’s mother, talked about the kidnapping of her daughter. He was seen in Hamas video with pajamas, dipped in blood.
“They grab her by hair, and she’s confused,” he said, adding: “We would like to believe that this is not possible, that no one would do harm to a young girl. But then you see it there. “
