Release of Four Israeli Soldiers After 477 Days of Captivity by Hamas: An Emotional Exchange as Part of a Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza

Four young Israeli women, Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Liri Albag, and Naama Levy, who were captured on October 7, 2023, during Hamas attacks, were finally freed on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Ranging in age from 19 to 20, the soldiers were performing their military service at the Nahal Oz base when they were abducted. After 477 days of captivity, these women were reunited with their families. Their release is part of a historic exchange under the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which allows for the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

A Delicate Exchange and Emotional Reunions

The four women were released in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners. They were first presented publicly in Gaza by Hamas before being handed over to the Red Cross. The transfer was followed by an emotional welcome in Reim, in southern Israel, where they were finally reunited with their families after nearly 16 months of separation and suffering.

Although their detention conditions were extremely harsh—deprivation, confinement in tunnels, and psychological pressures—the four soldiers are now safe. They were transferred to a hospital near Tel Aviv and are in stable condition, though they will require extensive medical and psychological evaluations to assess the lasting effects of their captivity. “Their long detention in terrifying conditions has left visible marks,” said Dr. Lena Koren Feldman, Deputy Director of the Rabin Medical Center.

Stories of Resilience

Each soldier endured particularly difficult trials, and their stories speak to their courage and determination:

• Daniella Gilboa, a passionate musician and talented singer, was identified in videos released by Hamas, where she appeared weakened and was forced to appeal for her own release. Despite these hardships, she showed impressive resilience.
• Karina Ariev, who loved poetry and dreamed of becoming a psychologist, had heartbreaking moments, including a tearful phone call with her family before being captured.
• Liri Albag, who aspired to become an interior designer, faced harsh detention conditions, particularly in tunnels with little food or fresh water.
• Naama Levy, a humanitarian activist from a family of Holocaust survivors, endured extreme privations and intense psychological pressure during her captivity.

A Fragile Hope for Ceasefire

This release, while welcomed with relief, highlights the scale of tensions in the region. In Tel Aviv, on the “Hostages’ Square,” hundreds of people followed the live reunion, with a mixture of applause and tears. “Bring them all home, now!” chanted some in the crowd, a reminder that many other Israeli hostages remain in Gaza.

This ceasefire, though rare in such an intense conflict, raises hopes for temporary peace. However, it also underscores the fragility of such agreements, which are often fraught with tension and human suffering. For the families of the hostages still held in Gaza, the waiting remains unbearable.

The reunions of the four young women embody both pain, courage, and hope, in a region where conflicts continue to weigh heavily on civilian populations. Their return is a victory on a human level but also serves as a reminder of the high cost of negotiations in an ongoing war.