At least one of the hostages freed yesterday asked to remain in captivity to be with colleague Agam Berger

At least one of the four female surveillance soldiers who were released by Hamas yesterday asked to be allowed to stay in captivity along with Agam Berger, their colleague who is still held hostage in Gaza, Channel 12 reports.

Berger, 21, is expected to be released in the next group of three hostages, scheduled for Saturday.

Berger, along with the four hostages who were released by Hamas yesterday, was among seven soldiers kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from the IDF’s Nahal Oz post on October 7, 2023, when the group launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, murdering some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251 to Gaza.

One of the seven, Noa Marciano, was killed in Hamas captivity and her body was recovered by IDF troops. Another, Ori Megidish, was rescued by the IDF on October 30, 2023.

Fifteen surveillance soldiers were killed at the base, along with dozens of other soldiers.

The hostages released yesterday — Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag — have told friends and relatives that it was very hard to leave Berger behind in captivity. They have said that they are now “waiting for Agam” and intend to stay with her in the hospital for several days as needed, to give her an envelope of support, the TV report says.

The report says Liri Albag was the last of the four to be told she was being released, and that this was only confirmed to her yesterday morning, shortly before they were freed.

The report says the four did not sleep at all overnight or during the day today, apparently running on adrenaline. Their blood and other tests are normal.

They have not separated from each other, eating and meeting friends and relatives together, the report says.

Family and friends have been told by the psychologists and social workers looking after the four not to press them for information on their captivity, and to let them detail what they went through at their own pace.