On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas released four Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 200 Palestinian prisoners, as part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month conflict in Gaza. The four hostages were brought onto a platform in Gaza City, where they were greeted by a large crowd of Palestinians and surrounded by armed Hamas members displaying flags with the group’s slogans. Smiling and waving, they were then escorted to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) vehicles, which transported them to Israeli forces. The event provided a rare moment of relief and celebration in Israel, where citizens followed the developments closely on television.
Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag were stationed at a military base near the border with Gaza when they were captured on Oct. 7. They were serving as lookouts tasked with monitoring suspicious military movements. Family members say the women were not at fault for their capture.
Ariev, a veterinary nurse, was described as a “wonderful woman” who loved her two siblings and nieces. She was said to be energetic and funny. Her sister says her abduction was harrowing because her older sister was killed in the 2014 conflict. Gilboa, also a veterinary nurse, was described as an active and family-oriented person who enjoyed sports and running. She was held for a total of 383 days. Levy, 19, was a reservist who loved to bake. Her family says she was very caring and always tried to do her best in everything she did. Her captors called her “lovely and smart,” according to a statement from her family released after her release. Albag, 20, was described as a sweet and sensitive person. Her family said she was a “wonderful and intelligent young woman” who enjoyed music, art, books, and photography. Her mother says she is very ambitious and wants to study psychology.
Families gathered at hospitals where the hostages were being taken after their release, with some of them crying and hugging each other. Others erected plastic sheeting to protect their privacy from the cameras of the many onlookers. Ariev’s family said in a statement that they were “overwhelmed” by the support and well-wishes that have been coming in from around the world.
At Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, where the hostages are being transferred, a large crowd of onlookers gathered. Some wore Israeli flags or posters with their pictures on them. Ariev’s sister, Sasha, told NBC News that her sister was thrilled to see the crowds and could not contain her excitement.
Earlier in the day, the families of the other three female hostages received indications that they would be freed. A senior Israeli official told NBC News that Hamas has provided the list of hostages to mediators but that Israel will not be able to agree to an exchange until it receives the names. The Israeli official says the government remains committed to bringing all of the captives home.
