Four Hostage IDF Soldiers Freed with Promises of Six More in the Coming Weeks

Hamas released four more hostages last weekend as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel. Israel Defense Forces soldiers Daniella Gilboa, 20, Liri Albag, 19, Naama Levy, 20, and Karina Ariev, 20, were taken captive from the Nahal Oz military post on October 7th, 2023, during Hamas' attack on Israel, CBN News reports.
On Saturday, heavily armed Hamas terrorists paraded all four women, who were wearing olive green fake army uniforms, onto a stage as they smiled and stood in front of a sign declaring Palestinian victory over "Nazi Zionism." They also carried "gift bags" like the first set of hostages released last week.
In a statement by The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, they noted that the girls' cheerful appearance is not completely authentic.
"Just reminding journalists covering the release of today's round of hostages, who appear to be smiling in the pictures circulated, that medical specialists reported hostages returned in November - including small children - were drugged to keep them in a positive state upon their return," it said.
They were handed over to the Red Cross and then transferred to the IDF, who took them to a meeting point where they would reunite with their families.
"Blessed are you, our God, who has provided us with life, and sustained us, and brought us to this moment. Our Daniella, Nushi, has survived 477 days in the hell of Gaza and has finally returned to our family's embrace. How we've prayed for this moment! We pray for Agam's swift return and for all those still held captive. Thank you, people of Israel, for all your prayers and support during this time - we couldn't have made it through without you," Daniella Gilboa's family put out a statement.
The Prime Minister's office celebrated the release of the hostages and maintained its commitment to having all hostages released.
"The Government of Israel embraces the four returnees, female soldiers of the IDF," the statement said.
IDF chief spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari also issued a statement.
"Today, we salute and embrace them and their families as they reunite just now after so long. We cannot and will not forget that 90 hostages - including women, children, and elderly men - still remain in brutal conditions in Hamas," Hagari said.
"We are determined to return Arbel Yehud, an Israeli citizen kidnapped from Nir Oz, and also Shiri Bibas and her two children, Kfir and Ariel, whose welfare we are extremely concerned about," Hagari added.
Due to the women being IDF soldiers, 50 Palestinian prisoners were released as part of the exchange deal. It was originally 30 per person last week. Saturday's release comes days before Israel celebrated Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday.
About 26 more hostages will be released over the next several weeks as part of the first phase of the three-phase deal, with one exchange scheduled to take place this Thursday.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Chris McGrath/Staff
Originally published January 27, 2025.