Four Israeli soldiers freed from Hamas captivity were finally reunited with their families in the latest round of releases under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The freed hostages were Karina Ariev (20), Daniella Gilboa (20), Naama Levy (20), and Liri Albag (19).
According to CNN, Hamas staged a show of force during the handover at Gaza City’s Palestine Square, waving green flags and displaying a poster featuring current and former Israeli leaders alongside the word “failure.” The gesture appeared to signal to Israel that Hamas remains a formidable force despite the ongoing 15-month Gaza conflict.
In a separate development, Israel announced that Gazans would not be allowed to return to the north amid a dispute over the release of a civilian, Arbel Yehud, whom Israel had expected to be freed on Saturday. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement claims it is holding the 29-year-old Israeli civilian.
The four soldiers were abducted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas overran their base.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke with Shira and Eli Albag, the parents of Liri Albag, one of the four freed female soldiers. “My wife and I, together with the entire people of Israel, embrace Liri and her friends who have emerged into a great light,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office. “This is truly a great day. We are working on the release of everyone else,” he added.
Liri Albag, 19, was held hostage in Gaza for 15 months. She was among seven female soldiers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military base, where they served as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) lookouts, monitoring activity inside Gaza.
Her family expressed “joy” and “relief” in an earlier statement. “We want to wholeheartedly thank everyone who stood by us, supported us, prayed, and sent love during these difficult days. Your support was our beacon of light,” CNN reported.
Israel’s prison service confirmed that 200 Palestinian prisoners, including some serving life sentences, were released from detention facilities as part of the ceasefire and hostage-release deal.
Israel has urged the Trump administration to press Hamas to adhere to the agreement and release the female hostage Arbel Yehud, an Israeli official familiar with the matter said on Saturday.
(ANI)
