After fifteen months of captivity marked by waiting and anxiety, four young Israeli people abducted on the border with Gaza found freedom. Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, all engaged in their military service, had been captured on October 7, 2023 by Hamas fighters during the bloody attack on the Nahal Oz base. This Saturday, January 25, as part of the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, they were finally able to find their families.
The images of their abduction had shocked Israel. The four young women, assigned to a surveillance unit near the Kibbutz Nahal Oz, were forcibly taken, their capture documented in videos broadcast by their captors. Alongside them, three other soldiers had also been removed: Ori Megidish, released in October 2023, Noa Marciano, killed during his detention, and Agam Berger, still retained in Gaza and presumed alive.
For their families, these fifteen months were a torture. Public campaigns, calls to managers and constant mobilization maintained the pressure for their release. Today, hope is reborn.
Four singular destinies
Liri Albag, 19 years oldmarked the spirits by its resilience. During her captivity, she brought messages to her relatives through other released hostages, going so far as to ask her sister Shai not to cancel the traditional military post-service trip. According to testimonies, she was forced by her jailers to perform domestic tasks. Her parents, Shira and Eli, have continued to carry her voice in the Israeli media.
Karina Ariev, 20 years oldinjured during her abduction, had shared a last overlying call with his parents before the contact was broken. Originally from Bat Yam, she fed the dream of becoming a psychologist. Her relatives describe a sensitive young woman, committed, and determined to overcome the trials.
Daniella Gilboa, 20 years oldpassionate about music, intended for an artistic career. Identified on videos thanks to her clothes, she stayed in contact with those around her until the morning of her kidnapping. Originally from Petah Tikva, she is described as a talented pianist and a promising singer.
Naama Levy, 20 years oldcarries a heavy heritage of meaning: a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, she had grown between Israel and India, where she had participated in initiatives promoting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Practice of triathlon, her courage in the face of adversity inspires his family and friends.
This release comes in a tense context, while the truce between Israel and Hamas remains precarious. If the exchange of hostages nourishes the hope of a de -escalation, it cannot erase the deep wounds left by this war. For the hostage families, this Saturday will mark the end of a ordeal, but also the start of a long way to reconstruction.
