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Dear A.,
“They’re in our hands now and we are not letting go.”
477 days after they were brutally kidnapped from their beds, beaten and bloodied in their pajamas, and taken hostage by savage Hamas terrorists, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag are finally back home.
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Hamas staged another despicable PR stunt in Gaza before releasing the four girls, with hundreds of armed and masked terrorists posing for cameras and orchestrating a fake signing ceremony with members of the Red Cross. Liri, Daniella, Naama, and Karina were dressed in mock IDF uniforms and paraded in front of the crowd.
“Hamas proved its cruelty by organizing a cynical ceremony,” IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, adding that Hamas “presented a misrepresentation of treatment and care for the hostages, while in reality, it is cruelly holding for 477 days innocent civilians.”
Yet despite Hamas' attempts to humiliate the women, they were defiant — smiling, waving, and demonstrating remarkable resilience. "We showed them on the stage that it did not bother us.
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We are stronger than that. "
Family members of the four hostages rejoiced together as they watched their girls transferred to Israeli custody.
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Watch the video below of Karina, Liri, Daniella, and Naama embracing their parents for the first time in 477 days:
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"An entire nation weeps and rejoices with you at this moment," Israeli President Isaac Herzog said. "We pray that you find strength in your journey of healing and recovery, surrounded by endless love and support."
This deal to free the hostages is possible because of the heroic Israeli soldiers who have fought courageously to degrade and destroy terrorists on its borders, and thanks to the strong American support for our ally throughout this war.
After reuniting with their families, the girls were taken for treatment at the Bilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, where the hospital director reported that, "Their medical condition is stable. I was amazed by the immensity of their minds. Strong women who survived days of hell and the light in their eyes did not go out...Although the prolonged stay in captivity is evident in their condition."
🎗️ Daniella Gilboa, 20, from Petah Tikva, was abducted from the Nahal Oz base. An incredible singer, Daniella is known for her optimism and kindness. She returned home to her childhood sweetheart, Roy, her parents, Orly and Ran, and her younger sister, Noam.
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🎗️ Karina Ariev, 20, from Jerusalem, was abducted from the Nahal Oz base. She is the “glue” that holds her family together. Karina loves dancing, singing, writing, cooking, and dreams of becoming a psychologist.
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🎗️ Naama Levi, 20, from Ra’anana, was also abducted from the Nahal Oz base. Gentle and quiet, Naama is a beacon of light and joy to everyone around her. A radiant young woman, she was previously a student of diplomacy and chemistry and is also a tennis player. Her friends describe her as strong, kind, and brings smiles to their faces.
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🎗️ Liri Albag, 19, from Moshav Yarchiv, was also kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base. She enlisted a month after finishing high school. Over the 15 months of her captivity, we’ve come to know her love for singing, laughing, photography, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.
Upon landing in Israel, Liri looked out the window of the IDF helicopter and held up her hands in a heart shape — a defiant message of resilience and victory over evil.
90 hostages, including 7 Americans, remain in the clutches of Hamas in Gaza.
Among those still in captivity is Arbel Yehud, a civilian who was supposed to be released before soldiers, according to the agreement. She and her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, were taken hostage on October 7.
Israel has accused Hamas of violating the deal, and is pressing Qatar and Egypt to pressure the terror group to free Arbel. Israel is also refusing to re-open the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza and allow for Gazans to return north until Arbel is free.
"At this moment, our hearts are with the Bibas, Yehud, and Berger families, and with all the anxious and worried families whose loved ones have not yet returned," President Herzog said.
"We will not rest until we bring back all our sisters and brothers from the hell of captivity in Gaza – the living to their loving families, and the fallen and murdered to be laid to rest in dignity." President Herzog said.
Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners today in exchange for Hamas freeing the four women. 120 of those prisoners were serving life sentences for murdering Israelis. 70 are not allowed to return to the West Bank and were exiled to Gaza or Egypt for at least three years.
We will continue to provide real-time updates on
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our social media feeds .
Am Yisrael Chai!
Cory Meyer
Director of Communications
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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