In a dramatic and emotional scene, four young Israeli women stepped back onto home soil this weekend after 15 harrowing months as hostages in Gaza. Their release came as part of a tense prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas, with 200 Palestinian prisoners simultaneously freed and returned to Gaza and the West Bank.
The four soldiers – Naama Levy, 19, Liri Albag, 19, Karina Ariev, 20, and Daniella Gilboa, 20 – were members of an all-female surveillance unit stationed on the Gaza border. On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants stormed their base, killing 15 soldiers and taking seven captive, in one of the boldest attacks of the long-running conflict.
Naama Levy in particular became an indelible symbol of that terrible day, after footage emerged of her, barefoot and bleeding, being dragged from a jeep by an armed man, to the cheers of onlookers. But 15 months later, her redemption, and that of her comrades, will now also be etched into Israeli history.
Homecoming Brings Bittersweet Relief
As the four soldiers reunited with their sobbing families on Saturday, crowds that had gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square erupted in applause and celebration. “It’s an incredible moment, I am so happy,” said Gali Cohen, 28, a member of a support group for the hostages’ families. “They could have been any one of us, that’s why we feel this so deeply.”
Yet the joy was tempered by the knowledge that many loved ones still remain in captivity. Saturday’s release was just the first stage of an fragile ceasefire and exchange agreement, mediated by Germany and Egypt. 33 out of around 100 total hostages are slated to return home in phases over the coming months – if the ceasefire holds.
“My family can’t be brought back, but we must keep fighting. That is my job now,” said Inbar Goldstein, 37, who lost her brother and niece in the October 2023 attack, and is now dedicated to pressuring the government to bring the remaining hostages home.
A Controversial But Necessary Deal
The prisoner exchange itself was highly choreographed, and not without controversy. Hamas held an elaborate ceremony in Gaza City, where the four women, dressed in clean khaki uniforms, were paraded in front of cheering crowds and militant guards.
In return, 200 Palestinians held in Israeli jails, many convicted of violent attacks, were bused to various points in Gaza, the West Bank, and Egypt, where 70 prisoners were deported to third countries. The site of joyful Palestinians embracing their freed sons and husbands was painful for many Israelis.
But for the soldiers’ families, any path to bring their daughters home was worth it. “I don’t like the way it was done, but after October 7th, nothing surprises me anymore,” said one mother. “I just want to hug those girls. Look at them, smiling, waving, after everything…How badass.”
A Shaky Ceasefire Faces Early Tests
Despite the catharsis of the initial prisoner release, the road ahead for the ceasefire looks bumpy. Israel is already accused of violating terms by blocking the return of displaced Gazans to their homes in the north, after a delay in the release of a final female hostage.
- Both sides have reasons to preserve the truce: Hamas wants to solidify its control over Gaza and rebuild after the war, while Israel’s government fears the public backlash if the deal collapses.
- But spoilers on each side could still undermine it: rogue militants in Gaza who reject Hamas’ authority, and hardline factions in Israel who oppose any concessions.
For the soldiers who endured those 15 months in captivity, though, this is a moment to savor, even as their hearts ache for those still in peril. “What I’ve learned in the last year is that happiness and sadness don’t cancel each other out. They co-exist,” said Inbar Goldstein. “Today, at least, there is more to be happy about than sad.”
It is a sentiment shared by many Israelis, who dare to hope that this small spark of humanity amid the rubble of war might be the first fragile step on a long road to peace.
