Israel on Saturday brought home four young women who endured 477 days as prisoners of the jihadist terrorist group Hamas. This is part of a cease-fire agreement that includes an exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and about 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel for crimes.
The women were identified as soldiers Karina Aliyev (20 years old), Daniela Gilboa (20 years old), Naama Levi (20 years old), and Lili Arbag (19 years old). The four were captured on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas siege of Israel, where they were working at a security post. At Nachal Oz. The Israeli government on Saturday released a touching video of a child's parents hugging them for the first time since their capture after their release from captivity in Gaza.
Ahead of their release, Hamas released a propaganda video showing the women moments before they were released from captivity. According to era of israelHamas forced the women to thank the terrorists for their release and sent them off with commemorative Palestinian flag keychains, which caused trouble. The masked terrorists paraded the women in front of a crowd of jihadists, then released them and displayed them in front of a sign praising the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7.
Some of the signs read: “Al-Aqsa Flood – Revolution Against Zionist Injustice.”
Thousands of Israelis gathered to welcome the freed women, waving Israeli flags and celebrating their return.
The women were freed in exchange for 200 Palestinians (who were not hostages) imprisoned under Israel's judicial system, but Gazans welcomed them enthusiastically on Saturday. The exchange is part of a larger ceasefire deal in Gaza, with the IDF declaring war on Hamas, Gaza's governing body, on October 8, 2023, and has continued to operate to prevent further attacks since then. are.
The two parties agreed to a ceasefire just before President Donald Trump took office. In messages published on social media, President Trump threatened to facilitate negotiations if a ceasefire agreement was not reached before he took office.
Karina Aliyev's sister, Sasha Aliyev, told Breitbart News in December that she was “so glad President Trump made this announcement” and was optimistic that her sister would make it back alive. showed a certain point of view. “It's a very important announcement. It scared Hamas. It showed that, you know, there's a new leader in town and we're going to get things done.”
The White House issued a statement Saturday welcoming the women home.
“Today, the world celebrates that President Trump secured the release of four more Israeli hostages held against their will by Hamas in horrific conditions for far too long.” said. read. “The United States continues to work with our great partner Israel to free all remaining hostages and pursue peace across the region.”
Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, killing an estimated 1,200 people. Terrorists are calling the attack the “Al-Aqsa Flood.” Jihadists committed widespread atrocities, in addition to killing civilians, butchering them in their homes, and filming themselves torturing, raping, and desecrating the bodies of their victims. In some cases, Hamas terrorists uploaded videos of torturing elderly victims to the victims' Facebook accounts. In other instances, there is evidence that they tortured and killed babies. Witnesses said they saw Hamas terrorists gang-raping victims and, in some cases, executing them during the rapes.
Immediately after the invasion video [warning: graphic images] Footage has surfaced showing Levy, one of the hostages released on Saturday, crashing into a Hamas jeep. Levi was in a state of tatters and his pants were covered in blood. A jihadist shouts “Allah Akbar!” While taking her away.
Levy is a peace activist who, before joining the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), devoted much of her time to reconciliation between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors, a fact Hamas appears to have ignored in its treatment of her.
Levy, along with Aliyev, Gilboa, Arbag, and a fifth young woman, Agam Berger, who is still in captivity, appeared in a Hamas propaganda video in May, and in July during the first few days of Hamas' operations. It is reported that he appeared in the second image showing the. capture. The women were in poor health and showed bruises and other signs of torture.
Mr. Berger's whereabouts and health status are unknown at the time of writing. It appears that she has not yet participated in the impending freedom negotiations. Several hostages have been released since October 7th. identified Berger is responsible for the elaborate braids worn by some of the female Israeli hostages upon their release.
“Even though she had to stay, Agam braided the hair of the girls she knew would be released. It was her way of sending them off with love and strength. ” his mother Merav Berger told Israel Hayom.
Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued A statement on Saturday said another fifth hostage, Alber Yehud, was also scheduled to take part in the exchange this weekend.
“Today, Israel will accept four female soldiers held hostage by the terrorist organization Hamas, in return for which it will release security prisoners according to agreed arrangements,” the statement said. “Israel will not allow Gazans to pass north of the Strip until the release of civilian Arbel Yehud, who was supposed to be released today in accordance with the agreement, is arranged.”
