Govind Tekale
Four Female Israeli Soldiers Reunited With Families After 15-Month Captivity in Gaza
Four Israeli female soldiers captured during the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attack have been released in Gaza, reuniting with their families after 15 months in captivity. The handover took place Saturday in Gaza City, with Hamas militants presenting the women at Palestine Square before transferring them to Red Cross vehicles.
The released soldiers are Karina Ariev (20), Daniella Gilboa (20), Naama Levy (20), and Liri Albag (19). All four served in a surveillance unit at the Nahal Oz base near the Gaza border. They were captured when Hamas fighters overran the base on Oct 7, killing more than 60 soldiers there.
In exchange, Israel is releasing approximately 200 Palestinian prisoners, including 121 serving life sentences. About 70 will be deported to Egypt, then possibly to Turkiye, Qatar, or Algiers. The rest go to the West Bank, where crowds waved Palestinian flags in Ramallah.
The swap is the second since the ceasefire began Sunday. The first release saw 3 Israeli hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners freed. The deal calls for 33 women, children, elderly, sick, and wounded captives released over six weeks in phase one, with Israel freeing 30 prisoners per civilian and 50 per soldier.
A fifth soldier from their unit, Agam Berger (20), was also captured at Nahal Oz but is not in the release list. A family friend told the BBC: “There were five girls, four are out and now she’s there alone. We’re just waiting for her to come home.” The Israeli military said preparations were completed to receive all captives and provide medical care.
The four released soldiers were flown by helicopter to a hospital in central Israel after reuniting with families. They appeared in good condition, smiling and waving to crowds in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, where the release was shown on big screens.
Hamas and Israel have disagreed over the missing civilian hostage. An Israeli military spokesman called the failure to release Arbel Yehud (29), abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a breach of the truce. Hamas said it was a technical issue and that she is alive and will be freed next Saturday.
Among the 200 Palestinian prisoners, authorities listed 81 from Hamas, 23 from Islamic Jihad, 13 from Fatah, and smaller fractions from other factions. Several were accused of the 2002 Hebrew University bombing that killed nine people, including five US citizens.
The ceasefire, now in its second week, has quieted airstrikes and rockets and allowed more aid into Gaza. Since the war began, Israel’s campaign has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Over 400 Israeli soldiers have died in combat.
Families of those still held are watching closely.
ICRC statement on facilitating prisoner releases
