Hamas hostage Liri Albag, used in propaganda video while captive, released from Gaza
Surveillance soldier was abducted from the Nahal Oz IDF base on Oct. 7, 2023; freed alongside three other female members of her unit on Jan. 25, 2025
On January 25, 2025, Liri Albag, 19, was released from Hamas captivity in Gaza as part of phase one of a mediated ceasefire-hostage release deal. She was handed over to the Red Cross, who delivered her to IDF soldiers who escorted her and three other female soldiers into Israel. Below is what we initially knew of their capture:
Liri Albag, then 18, was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on Saturday, October 7 from the IDF surveillance unit at the Nahal Oz army base.
Albag’s mother, Shira, last heard from her daughter at 6:30 a.m. that day, when Albag reported that she was in a field shelter, trying to avoid the rocket barrage.
That was the last that Shira heard from her daughter. She thought her daughter had ended up in one of the hospitals, and went to Soroka in Beersheba to try and find her.
When she arrived back home, Albag’s boyfriend showed her a Telegram video posted by Hamas, in which they were able to identify Albag being kidnapped by Hamas.
“I saw it and I refused to believe what I was seeing,” said Shira.
Shira has become active in the protests outside the Defense Ministry and in Shift 101, the silent, white-wearing rallies outside government institutions.
She told Yediot Aharonot that she had some hope after seeing her alive.
The Times of Israel Community.