Freed Israeli hostages ask to return to IDF service

Less than two weeks after their release from Hamas captivity, former hostages Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev have asked to return to the army, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

The young women, all former surveillance soldiers, surprised even their families when they announced their joint decision to resume service in the IDF, though not in their former lookout positions. However, the IDF reportedly told the families of the five women that they “still need to rest and heal from their long period in captivity.”

They would not be the first to seek a return to service. Ori Megidish, a former hostage who served with the five at the Nahal Oz army base before October 7, was rescued from captivity by the IDF and Shin Bet on 30 October and returned to active service four months later in the army’s Intelligence Division.

Megidish, along with Albag, Levy, Berger, Gilboa, Ariev and Noa Marciano – who was killed in captivity - were abducted from the Nahal Oz base on October 7. During the attack, 15 surveillance soldiers were murdered by Hamas.

Albag, Levy, Berger, Gilboa and Ariev were released in January 2025 as part of the recent ceasefire negotiation. The five women have been receiving care at an Israeli hospital and are due to be discharged on Wednesday.

So far, Hamas has released 18 hostages — civilians, soldiers and Thai nationals — during the ceasefire that began in January.