Israeli female soldiers reunited with families

Nineteen-year-old Leary Albaugh rushes into her parents’ arms, squealing with joy.

“My beauty. You’re a hero. You’re home. That’s it,” her mother says as the three laugh and cry together.

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

Leary was among the first Israelis to be taken hostage on October 7, 2023. Hamas when the military base on the Gaza border where she served was overrun.

She was Among four female soldiers to be returned to Israel on Saturday as part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Two hundred Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange.

“A sense of relief and happiness surrounds us after 477 long and excruciating days of nerve-wracking waiting,” her family said in a statement shortly after her return.

Crowds had gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Saturday morning, watching a live feed from Gaza on a big screen as they waited for the group to be returned to Israel.

Released along with Leary were soldiers Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa and Naama Levy, all in their 20s.

Cheers erupted as the women appeared, flanked by masked gunners from Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades, for a phased handover in Gaza City’s Palestine Square. They held hands and waved before being led into Red Cross vehicles.

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

In the crowd watching in Gaza, one man told the BBC that Hamas was returning the hostages in an “honourable way” and heralded the moment of victory for the group.

The women were then transferred to the Israeli military and later airlifted to a hospital.

At a press briefing, Beilinson Hospital Director Dr. Lena Koren Feldman described the freed hostages as in “stable condition” but said they would continue to receive a “comprehensive medical and emotional evaluation.”

They were the second group of hostages to be released ceasefire dealaimed at ending a permanent end to the war that began a week ago after months of negotiations.

The four women were taken hostage on October 7 from the Nahal Oz military base, about a kilometer from the Gaza border fence.

They were part of an unarmed all-female observer unitknown as Tatzpitaniyot in Hebrew, whose role was to study live surveillance footage captured by cameras along the high-tech fence and watch for signs of anything suspicious.

Several recruits from the unit and families of those killed said they had been warned that an attack was coming in the months leading up to October 7.

It was clear there was a “bubble about to burst”, one told the BBC.

The Israeli military previously said it was in the midst of a “thorough investigation into the events of October 7, including those in Nahal Oz, and the circumstances leading up to it.”

One woman from the unit, Agam Berger, remains in Gaza. In a statement on Saturday, her family said they were “delighted and moved” by the return of the four others, while they continue to “look forward to embracing Agam, God willing, in the coming week”.

Another woman, who served in the unit with them but was not on duty on October 7, told the BBC: “I was very emotional … it feels like sisters coming home.”

“God willing, we will all sit together and talk, but of course there is no pressure. They have to heal first.”

For the families of the bystanders who were killed on October 7, it was a slightly sweeter moment.

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

“We are very happy to see Karina, Daniela, Liri and Naama returning home to their families. At the same time, we remember that there are still hostages in Gaza. And we remember Ronnie, who will never return to home.”

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

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