Hamas frees 4 Israeli hostages
477 days after being kidnapped, in their pyjamas and unarmed, from the Nahal Oz military base in southern Israel, Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levy and Daniella Gilboa have returned home. The four young women have already undergone a medical examination and have been reunited with their families after being handed over to the Red Cross in a mass event in Palestine Square in Gaza City organised by Hamas.
In front of dozens of civilians and members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the four young women were forced to smile and wave from a stage where propaganda slogans from the armed group could also be seen.
Hamas las quiso humillar presentando soldadas israelíes que fueron sus presas pero Naama Liri Daniella y Karina les arruinaron el plan. Frente a la multitud palestina reunida en Gaza, levantaron sus brazos, sonrientes. Sufrieron mucho, claro que sí, pero ganaron. Vuelven con vida… pic.twitter.com/cY6iZDSCyz
— Jana Beris (@JanaBeris1) January 25, 2025
In exchange for these four girls, Israel will release 200 Palestinian prisoners, many of them convicted of terrorist acts.
Liri, Karina, Naama and Daniella were the only ones who survived the attack on the Nahal Oz base, along with Ori Megidish, Noa Marciano and Agam Berger. Ori was rescued by Israeli troops at the beginning of the war, Noa was killed in Shifa Hospital and Agam is still in Gaza. She is expected to be released next week.
Los padres de Liri, Naama, Daniella y Karina observan cómo sus hijas son entregadas sanas y salvas a las FDI.
— Israel en Español (@IsraelinSpanish) January 25, 2025
Pronto por fin volverán a abrazar a sus seres queridos ❤️ .
📸 @IDF pic.twitter.com/iu6rQYfNMV
Hamas violates ceasefire agreement with Israel
In addition to Agam, the civilian Arbel Yehoud should also be released in the next exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Arbel was kidnapped from the kibbutz Nir Oz and, according to the agreement, she should already have been released by Hamas.
As a result, Israel has announced that it will not allow the return of residents to northern Gaza until Arbel returns, as the agreement encourages Gazans to return to the north once all Israeli civilian women have been released.
Shortly afterwards, Hamas confirmed to the Qatari channel Al Jazeera that Yehoud, kidnapped by Islamic Jihad, is alive and will be released next Saturday.
Israel is also concerned about the condition and whereabouts of Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, aged 5 and 2 respectively, also kidnapped from the Nir Oz kibbutz on 7 October 2023.
