The relatives of the hostages released by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Saturday as part of the ceasefire agreement with Israel have expressed their relief and joy over the safe return of the four women.
The female soldiers Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev and Daniella Gilboa were freed by Hamas on Saturday morning.
Videos released by the Israeli government showed the parents of the women cheering and shouting as they watched their daughters being handed over to the Israeli military by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Levy’s family said they were “overjoyed” to see Naama strong and on her way home, shortly before they were reunited with the 20-year-old.
They said their hearts were with the families who were still waiting for the release of their loved ones. “We will not rest until the last hostage returns,” they added.
Noam Gilboa, the sister of Daniela Gilboa, who was initially feared dead, also expressed her relief. She told the Israeli news site ynet that she had collapsed when rumours spread that her sister had died.
Two months ago, Hamas announced that an Israeli woman abducted to the Gaza Strip had been killed in an attack by the Israeli military and distributed videos allegedly showing a tattoo of the dead hostage.
At the time, there were reports that it was Daniela Gilboa, though Israel did not confirm this.
