Karina Ariev, 20; Daniella Gilboa, 20; Naama Levy, 20; and Liri Albag, 19, were captured in Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war and have had no contact with the outside world since then
A pedestrian walks past a wall graffiti calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, in Kfar Saba, Israel, on Jan. 24.Hamas announced Friday that it would release four female soldiers held hostage for 15 months in Gaza, as part of an exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners laid out in itswith Israel. An advocacy group representing the families of hostages confirmed the identities of the captive Israelis to be released on Saturday.
The female abductees had all served in a unit of lookouts charged with monitoring threats along the border. A fifth female soldier in their unit, Agam Berger, 20, was abducted with them but not included in list. Earlier this month, as ceasefire negotiations dragged on, Hamas’ military wing released a video that showed Albag, the youngest of the soldiers slated for release, in what her family said was “severe psychological distress.”
In the first phase of the ceasefire deal, 33 hostages – including women, children, sick people and those over 50 – are expected to be released gradually in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Most of the 33 are civilians, but the deal also commits Hamas to freeing all living female soldiers in Phase 1, which is expected to last 42 days.
Another parent, Ayelet Samerano, whose son Yonatan Samerano is among those still being held, appealed to Trump for his help in releasing the rest of the Israelis captive in Gaza. Trump had warned that there would be “all hell to pay” if Israeli hostages were not released by his inauguration.
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