Four young Israeli soldiers, identified as Son Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy, all between the ages of 19 and 20, were captured on October 7, 2023, at the Nahal Oz military base. The Israeli army and Hamas carried out the second exchange under the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
The women were released by the Hamas group as a gesture of de-escalation amid tensions between the two parties. It was reported that the young soldiers were in good health and were handed over to Israeli authorities at a pre-arranged meeting point for the exchange.
"We are grateful that our return home was possible. It has been a difficult experience, but we are relieved to be back with our families," one of the released soldiers expressed in an emotional statement after their return.
The ceasefire agreement has allowed for the exchange of prisoners between Israel and Hamas, seeking to reduce tensions in the region and move towards greater stability in the Gaza Strip. This gesture of releasing the women soldiers is seen as a positive step amid a conflict that has left deep wounds on both sides.
