A song for home

Freed IDF soldiers celebrate release from hospital with singer Elai Botner

Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Liri Albag and Agam Berger sing and dance onstage before four of them head home for first time since returning from Hamas captivity

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

The five surveillance soldiers freed from Gaza on stage with singer Elai Botner on February 4, 2025, at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. (YouTube screenshot, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
The five surveillance soldiers freed from Gaza on stage with singer Elai Botner on February 4, 2025, at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. (YouTube screenshot, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Five IDF surveillance soldiers celebrated their imminent discharge from the hospital where they have been treated since returning from Hamas captivity in Gaza, singing and dancing onstage with singer Elai Botner as he gave an intimate performance in their honor.

In a YouTube video on his channel, Daniella Gilboa and Liri Albag are seen lustily singing alongside Botner, as Naama Levy, Karina Ariev and Agam Berger and a group of friends dance onstage.

“This is the most exciting performance I’ve ever had. To experience freedom, life with these wonderful girls, it’s a huge privilege,” wrote Botner on Instagram. “Amen and [the hostages] will all come back and we can celebrate with them too.”

At least two of the released soldiers, Gilboa and Berger, are no strangers to the stage.

Prior to being abducted during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, Gilboa studied piano and voice and hoped to perform professionally one day. Berger has been studying and playing violin since she was young.

Gilboa serenaded Albag with a “Happy Birthday” solo in the hospital on Tuesday.

Her father revealed on social media that she kept singing in captivity, strengthening herself and her friends.

Albag, Levy, Gilboa and Ariev have been in treatment since their release on January 26. They remained at the hospital several more days than planned in order to be with their friend Berger after her release on January 30, and were discharged on Wednesday from Beilinson Hospital, where they have been cared for since they returned to Israel as part of an ongoing hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza.

Berger will remain at the hospital for a few more days.

Channel 12 news reported that all five have asked to resume their army service, though not as surveillance soldiers.

Relatives told the network that the army told them they needed more time to recover, and it was still too early for such a step.

Most Popular
read more: