GAZA CITY, Israel — Four Israeli female soldiers held hostage by Hamas for 477 days were released on Saturday, January 25, 2025, as part of a hostage-ceasefire exchange.
The release followed a tense and stage-managed handover ceremony in Gaza City before the women were transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and subsequently returned to Israel.
The soldiers — Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19 —were captured during a Hamas-led attack on their Nahal Oz military base on 7 October 2023.
Their release marks the second phase of an ongoing ceasefire-hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
A Choreographed Release
In Gaza City, Hamas paraded the four women before a large crowd in a central square.
Dressed in olive green uniforms resembling IDF attire, the women carried “gift bags” from Hamas and were marched onto a stage decorated with anti-Israel slogans in Arabic, English, and Hebrew.
Slogans such as “Palestine: The victory of the oppressed people vs the Nazi Zionism” were prominently displayed.
The four soldiers appeared calm and waved to the crowd before being handed over to the ICRC.
Video footage released by Hamas showed the women thanking their captors in Arabic, a statement that Israeli officials believe was coerced.
“Hamas is a murderous terror group. In the last few hours, Hamas proved its cruelty by organising a cynical ceremony,” said IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.
He accused Hamas of presenting a false narrative of humane treatment for hostages.
Return to Israel
After their handover to the ICRC, the soldiers were escorted by IDF special forces across the border to Re’im, where they were reunited with their families. Footage showed families clapping, cheering, and crying as the women arrived at the IDF facility.
“They are in safe hands and on their way home,” Rear Adm. Hagari said in a televised address.
The soldiers underwent medical examinations upon their arrival. According to officials, they were in good physical condition and required no immediate emergency care. Further evaluations by medical and mental health professionals are ongoing.
Hostages Still Held
The release of the four soldiers comes amid mounting concerns for other hostages, particularly civilian women such as Arbel Yehoud, whom Israel expected to be freed as part of this phase of the agreement. Hamas has yet to release Yehoud, whom Israeli officials believe is being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
“Hamas did not abide by its obligation in the deal to free civilian women first,” Hagari stated. He added that Israel has delayed allowing Palestinians to return to northern Gaza until Yehoud’s release is secured.
Israel expects additional information from Hamas regarding the fate of the 26 remaining hostages on its release list, though there is concern that Hamas might provide only general numbers rather than specific details.
Prisoner Exchange
In return for the release of the soldiers, Israel freed 200 Palestinian prisoners, including 121 serving life sentences for deadly attacks.
Many of the released individuals were transferred to Egypt via the Rafah border crossing, while others were deported.
Among those released were Mohammad Odeh and Wael Qassim, convicted of organising the 2002 bombing of a cafeteria at Hebrew University in Jerusalem that killed nine people, including five U.S. citizens.
Broader Context
The release is part of a ceasefire agreement that saw Hamas free 105 civilian hostages during a weeklong truce in November 2023.
Israeli forces have also rescued eight hostages alive and recovered the bodies of 40 others, including three mistakenly killed during escape attempts.
Hamas is still holding 87 hostages, including the remains of at least 34 individuals confirmed dead, as well as two Israeli civilians and the body of an IDF soldier killed in 2014.
As negotiations continue, both sides remain locked in a fragile truce, with the fates of dozens of hostages and the humanitarian situation in Gaza hanging in the balance.
