Israeli female soldiers reunited with their families

Liri Albag from Liria runs into her parents’ arms, screaming with joy.

“My beauty. You’re a hero. You’re home. That’s it,” said the mother as the three laughed and cried together.

The moment, filmed by the Israeli military, was the first the family had seen in more than 15 months.

Liri was among the first Israelis to be accommodated in the October 7, 2023, Hamas Attack.

It was him Among the four soldiers to return to Israel Saturday in the first phase of a cease-fire agreement with Hamas. Two hundred Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange.

“A sense of relief and happiness awaits us for 477 long and unbearable days of waiting, waiting for the nerves to wait,” his family said in a statement shortly after his return.

A crowd of hostages gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday morning, watching a live news broadcast from Gaza on a big screen as they waited for the group to return to Israel.

Karina Ariv, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, who were released together with Liri, were 20-year-old soldiers.

Cheers erupted as the women, masked with guns from Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, appeared on stage in Gaza’s Palestine Square. They held hands and waved before being taken away in red cross vehicles.

“It’s amazing. They’re amazing. Have you seen them standing and smiling?” A woman watching the live feed with the crowd in Tel Aviv.

In the crowd seen in Gaza, one man told the BBC Hamas was returning the hostages in an “honourable manner” and declared it a victory for the group.

The women were then taken to the Israeli military and then helicoptered to a hospital.

In a press release, director Dr. Lena Koren Feldman described the released hostages as “in stable condition” but said they would continue to undergo a “comprehensive medical and emotional evaluation.”

They were the second hostage to be released in the garden ceasefireAimed at bringing a permanent end to the war, months of negotiations began a week ago.

The four women were accommodated on October 7 from the Nahal Oz military base, one kilometer from the Gaza border fence.

They participated A female unit without an observerKnown as Tatzpitanyot in Hebrew, his mission is to analyze live surveillance footage captured by cameras along the high-tech fence and look for signs of anything suspicious.

Several statements from the unit and the families of those who died said that they were warned of an attack before October 7.

It was clear it was “a balloon about to burst,” he told the BBC.

The Israeli military has previously said it is “in the midst of a thorough investigation into the events of October 7, as well as Nahal Oz, and the circumstances preceding it.”

A woman from the unit, Agam Berger, remains in Gaza. In a statement on Saturday, he said his family was “happy and moved” by the return of the other four, who were “eagerly awaiting Agam, God willing, next week”.

Another woman served in the unit, but was not there on October 7.

“Oh my God, we’ll all sit together and talk, but no pressure. They have to heal first.”

It was a sweet moment for the families of the observers who died on October 7.

“It’s a very emotional day for us,” said Elad Levy, whose nephew Roni served with the four women but was killed in the attacks.

“We are very happy to see Karina, Daniella, Liri and Naama return home to their families. At the same time, we remember that there is still salt in the gas. And for us, we remember Roni who will not come home again.”

Israel had hoped to include female civilian housing in Arbel Yehud’s release on Saturday and accused Hamas of violating the terms of the ceasefire to prioritize female civilians. Hamas said Ms. Yehud would be released next weekend.

Another civilian yet to be released is Shiri Bibas, who was taken with her husband and two young children, Ariel and Kfir.