THIS is the moment four young Israeli hostages were surrounded by gun-wielding militants before they were released.
Karina Ariev, 20, Daniela Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Elbag, 19, were handed over to the Red Cross by balaclava-wearing Hamas leaders.
Four Israeli hostages were escorted by gun-wielding Hamas officials[/caption]
The girls were surrounded before their release[/caption]
Hostages Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag were handed over to the Red Cross[/caption]
The girls were held in Hamas vehicles as hundreds of people gathered to watch the historic moment in Gaza City[/caption]
The four girls were kidnapped on October 7, 2023[/caption]
These female IDF soldiers were part of the second hostage release of the fragile ceasefire between the two groups.
The four women were kidnapped on October 7, 2023, during the deadly assault on Israel’s Nahal Oz military base.
These girls were handed over in the middle of a public square in Gaza City on Saturday.
This handover ceremony was slammed as “cynical” by IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari.
He said: “Hamas is a murderous terror group. In the last few hours Hamas proved its cruelty by organizing a cynical ceremony.”
Hagari added that the group “presented a misrepresentation of treatment and care for the hostages, while in reality, it is cruelly holding for 477 days innocent civilians”.
The hostages were kept in SUVs as huge crowds of Palestinians gathered to watch the historic moment.
Dozens of camo-wearing and rifle-holding militants formed a barrier between the crowds and the Hamas cars, Red Cross SUVs, and podium where the girls were handed over.
Huge Palestinian flags were waved in the watching crowd and one person held a poster of the assassinated Hamas boss Yahya Al-Sinwar.
The four girls were escorted out of their vehicles as they desperately hugged each other while circled by the gun-wielding militants.
They held hands as they walked onto a podium in front of dozens of onlookers.
The women were seen waving their hands from the stage before being handed to the Red Cross.
This tense and fragile exchange was speedily ended as the humanitarian cars were escorted through the crowds of curious onlookers and out of the square to their freedom.
The IDF confirmed the women were then transferred to the Israeli military and Shin Bet forces in the Gaza Strip.
The force said on X on Saturday morning: “The four returnees are now being escorted by an elite IDF unit and Shin Bet force on their way to Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical evaluation.
“IDF commanders and soldiers salute and embrace the returnees on their way to Israel.”
Their families are just moments away from being emotionally reunited with their girls for the first time in over 477 days.
Despite this, their families and friends are overjoyed that they are back to safety.
The women waved at the crowd as they were handed over to Red Cross officials[/caption]
Albag’s friends told Israeli outlet Ynet: “Yes! Yes! Yes! Liri the hero.
“We saw Liri coming back. She waved her hand and she seems fine. It’s crazy. We were really worried, but she’s a hero with a huge smile.”
DEAL-BREAKER
Hamas was accused of breaking the terms of the hostage arrangement by releasing the four female soldiers before releasing the civilian women, according to IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.
“Hamas did not abide by its obligation in the deal to free civilian women first,” he said in a televised statement on Saturday.
Hagari called for the immediate release of prisoner Arbel Yehud, whom Israel believes to be alive, as well as Shiri Bibas and her children, “who we have heavy concerns for their fate.”
The spokesperson said he expects Israel will receive more information about the Bibas family, including the five and two-year-old brothers, soon.
HORROR DAY
These four girls were snatched from their military base in Southern Israel in a terrifying attack.
Hamas militants released terrifying footage of the girls covered in blood as they were tied up in front of murderous invaders.
The young soldiers were also pushed up against a wall as a militant screamed “take pictures of them”.
“Our brothers died because of you, we will shoot you all,” a Hamas fighter screamed at the terrified girls.
The four IDF soldiers were held captive for 477 days of terror as their families fought for their release.
The female soldiers held hands as they were escorted[/caption]
Hamas fighters were deployed in central Gaza City ahead of the planned release of four Israeli female hostages[/caption]
IDF spokesperson Admiral Daniel Hagari slammed Hamas for the handover ceremony[/caption]
