Families of Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, Liri Albag informed they’ll be released tomorrow

Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hamas, who are due to be released on January 25, 2025: Top (L-R) Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa; bottom (L-R) Naama Levy, Liri Albag. (Courtesy)
Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hamas, who are due to be released on January 25, 2025: Top (L-R) Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa; bottom (L-R) Naama Levy, Liri Albag. (Courtesy)

The families of hostages Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag have been notified that they are expected to be released by Hamas tomorrow.

The four are IDF surveillance soldiers kidnapped by Hamas from the Nahal Oz post during the October 7, 2023, onslaught.

Hamas published their names several hours ago. Officials told the families of the four soldiers that the list could still change.

Additionally, officials spoke with the families of Agam Berger, another surveillance soldier held by Hamas, and Arbel Yehud, a civilian whom Israel requested be freed this weekend.

The list was published at 5 p.m. but the IDF had asked Israeli media not to publish until the families were notified.

The agreement requires Hamas to release all of the female civilian hostages before moving on to the category of female soldiers, followed by elderly hostages, followed by seriously ill hostages.

On Wednesday, Israel conveyed to Hamas that it expects the terror group to free Yehud in this weekend’s release of four hostages.

Yehud is among the civilian hostages held by Gaza terrorists, and, as a female civilian, should be in the batch freed tomorrow. However, she is thought to be held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group and not Hamas, apparently leading to concern in Jerusalem that Hamas may attempt to put off her release.

Israel has a host of options before it regarding how to respond to the Hamas violation.

It could pull out of its commitment to allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza tomorrow or it could change or limit the list of Palestinian prisoners it is supposed to release in return for the four hostages.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with his security chief earlier this evening to decide how to respond. A final decision on what steps Israel will take has not been made, but Netanyahu has decided to move forward with the list that Hamas has provided, rather than blowing up the entire deal.

For each of the living female civilian hostages, the deal provides for Israel to release 30 Palestinian prisoners. For each of the living female IDF soldiers, 50 prisoners are to be released. The prisoners to be freed in exchange for living female soldiers include Palestinians serving life sentences for murder and other acts of terror.

The Hostage Family Forum representing the vast majority of families of Israeli captives welcomes the news of Ariev, Gilboa, Levi and Albag’s release after 477 days in captivity.

The forum says it will continue fighting to ensure all remaining hostages are released.

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