The release of four young Israeli soldiers from captivity marked a poignant moment in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas—a conflict that erupted in October 2023 following a massive Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. For over a year, the families of these women lived with anguish, while the soldiers themselves endured unimaginable challenges as hostages. This moment of freedom came as part of a carefully brokered deal amidst the chaos of war—a 42-day ceasefire that offered a fragile pause to the violence. The terms of the agreement allowed for the incremental release of hostages by Hamas, in exchange for a large number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, as well as a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from certain areas.
### A Stage in Gaza, A Moment of Freedom
The four women stepped into the light of Gaza City wearing military fatigues, a surreal tableau in the geopolitical drama that has engulfed Israel and Palestine for decades. Their release—carefully choreographed and orchestrated—showed them waving and smiling to a cheering crowd. Surrounded by masked Hamas fighters, the soldiers’ bright expressions starkly contrasted with their year of captivity. This was no spontaneous homecoming but a tightly controlled narrative, played out for the cameras and the world to see.
For Israel, this was a bittersweet moment—a minor victory in a war that remains far from resolution. The young soldiers had been among nearly 100 hostages taken during the devastating October 7 attack, during which more than 50 Israeli troops were killed. Known as “spotters,” these women had only recently joined the Israeli army and were stationed near the border to monitor suspicious activity. In their recruitment, they likely never imagined they would become pawns in a war far bigger than themselves.
### Rebuilding Lives: Four Women Who Survived
#### Liri Albag: A Spark of Resilience
Liri Albag, one of the released soldiers, exemplifies resilience. Just 19 now, Liri had been held for over 450 days. Her abduction came at the start of her military service, fresh from high school and with dreams of becoming an architect and interior designer. During her captivity, her family campaigned tirelessly for her release, having seen a harrowing Hamas video in January 2023 that showed a visibly distressed Liri speaking about her ordeal. Despite the evident mental toll of her confinement, her release brought unexpected relief to her loved ones. “Far from what I expected, she looks vibrant… her spirit unbroken,” said her aunt, expressing the shared joy and astonishment of the family upon seeing her smile and wave on the stage in Gaza.
This moment, however, did not come without pain. Liri’s family had made public their fear and frustration with Israel’s lack of progress in securing her release during the long months of captivity. “She is just dozens of kilometers away from us, yet for 456 days we have been unable to bring her home,” her family had lamented earlier this year. Now that long fight has come to a conclusion, at least for Liri.
#### Karina Ariev: A Daughter of Strength
Karina Ariev, a soldier who turned 20 in captivity, also walked free during this release. The daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, Karina’s abduction struck her family deeply. Known as “the connecting force” among loved ones and friends, her absence left an emotional vacuum at home. Her ordeal began with a frantic call to her parents during the Hamas attack, the sounds of gunfire and rockets in the background, her words heavy with fear and undying affection: “I love you.”
Her family’s worst fears were confirmed when they later came across a Hamas video showing Karina and two other women being taken in a jeep, her face visibly injured. The months that followed only deepened the family’s agony, as Karina’s struggles became a constant weight on their hearts. Her older sister, Sasha, revealed how the uncertainty of her captivity kept her awake at night. “How can I sleep when we haven’t succeeded in bringing Karina and all the other hostages home?” she asked. While Karina is now free, the scars of her experience will surely linger for her and her family.
#### Daniella Gilboa: A Future Put on Hold
For Daniella Gilboa, a 20-year-old from Petah Tikva, her time as a hostage postponed bright dreams of becoming a professional pianist. Her abduction was yet another devastating chapter in the attack that changed so many lives on October 7. Prior to her release, her family had shared gut-wrenching footage filmed by Hamas that showed Daniella in captivity. The videos brought an odd mix of emotions—relief at seeing her alive, but heartbreak as the harsh realities of her captivity came into focus.
Daniella’s love for music and her aspirations to perform professionally reflected the innocence of a life interrupted by conflict. Her boyfriend’s father shared the family’s mixed emotions about her captivity. “There is a feeling of relief alongside a feeling of disappointment,” he said, revealing how captivity and its trauma affect not just the victims but also everyone around them. Now free, Daniella must begin to rebuild the life and dreams she once held so dearly.
#### Naama Levy: The Triathlete in the Crossfire
The fourth soldier, Naama Levy, hailed from Raanana, a peaceful town north of Tel Aviv that couldn’t have felt farther from the chaos of Gaza. A triathlete with an indomitable spirit, Naama now faces the task of healing from an experience that no parent could fathom for their child. On the day of the attack, she managed to send frantic text messages to her mother from a safe room, writing, “I’ve never heard anything like this.”
Soon after, a horrific video emerged showing Naama being taken to Gaza. Her mother, Ayelet Levy Sachar, shared haunting details in a documentary about sexual violence during the October attack, recounting how her daughter appeared in the video—wounded, bloodied, and in pajama bottoms. The thought of such violence being visited upon her daughter remained a source of anguish for Ayelet, even as she clung to hope for her release. Naama’s eventual freedom marks the end of one nightmare but the beginning of a long road to recovery.
### Hostages in the Larger Story of War
The release of these young women is a glimmer of humanity amidst the ongoing devastation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, their freedom comes at a tremendous cost, as more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners have been released as part of the ceasefire agreement. The exchange also reveals the complex and transactional nature of hostage situations in warzones, where human lives become instruments of leverage.
The October 7 attack exemplified the brutality of this war. Over 50 soldiers were killed during the assault on the Nahal Oz military base where these women had been stationed. Hamas’s use of body-worn cameras to record their abductions adds another harrowing dimension, underscoring the psychological warfare at play. Videos of hostages circulated online serve as reminders of the fear, pain, and power dynamics that continue to define this decades-long conflict.
### A Fragile Ceasefire, a Fleeting Moment
This hostage-for-prisoner exchange was made possible by the fragile 42-day ceasefire announced earlier this month. While the ceasefire has provided a sliver of hope for some families, it is clear that the road ahead remains treacherous. For Israel, the lives of its citizens remain paramount, and every effort to bring the remaining hostages home stirs intense debate over what compromises should be made in exchange. On the Palestinian side, the release of prisoners further ignites questions about justice, freedom, and the toll of decades of occupation and blockades.
The stories of Liri, Karina, Daniella, and Naama are deeply personal yet intricately tied to the larger narrative of war. Their release offers a powerful reminder of resilience and hope, even in the face of profound suffering. Still, they leave us grappling with the sobering reality that for every life freed from captivity, countless others remain caught in the crossfire of this enduring conflict. For these four women, the battle is no longer about survival but about reclaiming stolen years and finding their way back to themselves—an uphill climb in a world forever altered by war.
