Four Israeli women released from Gaza as hostages reunited with their families

 In a moment filled with tears, joy and pure emotion, four Israeli soldiers - Karina Aliyev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levi and Liri Albagh - returned home on Saturday after 477 days of captivity in the Gaza Strip. Their release is part of the second phase of a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Returning home after 477 days

The four women, aged 19 and 20, were handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross and taken by elite Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) forces to a military base near Re’im in southern Israel. There, they were reunited with their families amid overwhelming joy.

"You have come home, our dear child, you have come home," Karina Aliyev's mother said as she embraced her daughter. In another emotional moment, Daniella Gilboa ran into her parents' arms, crying out to her mother: "Mommy, you're a lioness."
Naama Levi's mother, Dr. Ayelet Levi-Shachar, put down her bag and ran down a hallway ringing with sobs and laughter to greet her daughter. "I'll take care of you, everything will be fine," Naama's father whispered as they embraced.
For Liri Albagh, the youngest of the four, the reunion was also downright emotional. "Liri , baby!" her father cried as the 19-year-old jumped into her parents' arms. "Yes, she's back, she's back," her mother cried. Hundreds gather at Geisel Square

The emotional reunion extended beyond the military base. Hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square to watch the release live on a giant screen. They erupted in joy when the four women appeared on screen.

"It feels amazing, there's excitement, tears and joy all at once," Sima Ben Naim, 70, who joined the crowd, told The Times of Israel. Another participant, Shlomi Ben Yakar, described the moment as a "wave of excitement and happiness," adding: "It was like a dream. And now a beautiful dream has come true."

The women expressed their gratitude after they were flown to Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva for further medical and psychological care. "I love all the people of Israel who supported our family, and all the Israel Defense Forces who did everything for us," Liri said in a video message. She also wrote "I'm back" on a whiteboard and waved to cheering supporters who had gathered near the hospital landing.
Daniella's 15-year-old sister was thinking about being reunited with her sister for the first time in 15 months. "Wow, I imagined it would be so different. It brought back all the emotions I've felt over the past year," she said. The complex realities of captivity and war

The four women were among seven female soldiers abducted from the Nahal Oz military base in a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, that left more than 1,200 people dead. As part of the exchange, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners, including several who were serving life sentences for terrorism offences. As part of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has released a total of 112 hostages since November 2023. There are still 87 Israelis remaining in Gaza, of whom 34 deaths have been confirmed.