Israel has confirmed receiving the names of four female soldiers held hostage by Hamas after the October 7 attack, who are set to be released as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, CNN reported.
Hamas announced it plans to release Karina Ariev (20), Daniella Gilboa (20), Naama Levy (20), and Liri Albag (19). According to Israeli officials, the families of the four women were informed about the planned release, despite earlier expectations that Arbel Yehud, a 29-year-old female civilian hostage, would also be included.
Israel had specifically demanded the release of Yehud, who was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. However, Yehud is believed to be held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad rather than Hamas, which may explain her exclusion from the list, according to CNN.
Initially, it was unclear whether Israel would accept Hamas’ list of hostages without Yehud’s inclusion. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held discussions with the defense minister and the country’s negotiation team to assess the situation. Later, the families of the four soldiers were notified that the release would proceed as planned.
The four women slated for release were among seven soldiers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military base, where they served as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) lookouts monitoring Gaza. Five soldiers were not freed during a previous ceasefire in 2023, despite the agreement stipulating the release of all women and children captives. Among those still held in Gaza is Agam Berger, who is not on the current release list but is included in the 33 hostages Israel expects to be freed during the initial phase of the ceasefire, which began Sunday.
Videos showing the abduction of these soldiers became emblematic of the brutality of the October 7 Hamas attack. One video showed the women lined up against a wall, bound, bruised, and bloodied. The footage, released by the families in May, was aimed at pressuring the Israeli government to secure their release. At the time, the IDF admitted it had failed to adequately protect its personnel at the Nahal Oz base, CNN reported.
Hamas and its allies still hold 91 people taken during the October 7 attack. Additionally, three hostages who have been captive since 2014 remain in Gaza. In total, 251 individuals were abducted during the October 7 assault.
As part of the ceasefire deal, Israeli forces will withdraw from some areas in Gaza, and the volume of humanitarian aid flowing into the region will be increased.