DAY 477 OF CAPTIVITY • DAY 7 OF THE CEASEFIRE: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy Are All Home!
Tel Aviv Diary, January 25, 2025
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Our Next ZOOM BRIEFING will take place on Sunday, January 26th
6PM Israel Time • 4PM GB • 11AM EST • 8AM PST
Invitations will go out in the morning
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It was yet another profoundly emotional day in Israel—one we hope will repeat often in the upcoming weeks.
The events of today were set in motion late yesterday afternoon when Hamas disclosed the list of hostages scheduled for release. The release list included four soldiers: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy. While it was a relief to confirm that four soldiers were accounted for, the absence of Arbel Yehoud—a civilian abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz—raised significant concerns.
The agreement established a clear hierarchy of who was to be released: First, all female civilians and children, followed by female soldiers, and finally elderly and ill male hostages. Israel specifically demanded that Arbel be included in today’s release, knowing that Islamic Jihad, not Hamas, was holding Yehoud. No explanation was given as to why Yehoud was not on the list. Although Israel declared this a breach of the agreement, the government chose to minimize its comments, recognizing that any contention at this juncture could potentially delay the release of the four women. On the positive side, the fact that Daniella Gilboa was on the list be released after Hamas had spread a rumor that she was dead was wonderful news.
Late on Friday evening, it was reported that the hostages would be released earlier than initially planned, instead of late afternoon. The main Israeli networks announced that live coverage would begin at 8 a.m. However, when I checked at 8 a.m., there was, of course, nothing yet happening. By 9:30, the networks began broadcasting a feed from Al Jazeera, initially showing Red Cross jeeps heading toward a Hamas-specified location in Gaza. Shortly thereafter, video footage emerged of a gathering in Gaza City, where a stage had been set up by Hamas and other groups designated as terrorist organizations.
Once again, early on a Saturday morning, I woke up my son. Last week, I woke him because the Houthis launched their final missile, but my thoughts immediately jumped back to that particular Saturday morning many months ago, on October 7th. That day, when I woke my son to tell him something was serious happening, as the reports of the attack began before the sirens began sounding in Tel Aviv. Although the ordeal is not yet over, and will not be until every hostage is safely back home, today marks the start of this process.
Hamas had orchestrated a cynical display to “show off” the hostages before transferring them to the Red Cross. By 10:45am, everything at the stage seemed set. The Red Cross vehicles had arrived, and then four additional cars were carefully positioned. Although there were rumors that one of the hostages would be compelled to give a speech in Arabic from the podium, the actual sequence of events was different: First, a Red Cross representative signed a document with a masked gunman standing over him. Then, the four young women emerged from two cars. At that moment, screams of joy erupted from the families, and tears of relief were shed by Israelis nationwide, myself included. They walked up to the stage unaided, and from an outward perspective, they appeared to be in good health.
As someone with two daughters who served in the IDF, like millions of other Israelis, it was impossible not to share in the joy of the moment. The women ascended the stage and, instead of delivering a speech, they courageously faced the crowd of Hamas supporters. With broad smiles on their faces, they raised their hands together in a sign of victory.
They had survived and were now on their way home. What Hamas intended as a humiliation for the hostages and Israel alike was transformed into a display of the resilience of Israeli women. The women then entered the Red Cross vehicles for a ten-minute ride to where Israeli Special Forces were waiting.
Next, the four women were driven out of Gaza in an Israeli convoy to the nearby Reem IDF base, where their parents were anxiously awaiting their arrival.
Once the women were safely in Israeli custody, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief. After they crossed into Israeli territory, the Prime Minister’s office issued a statement, declaring that because Hamas had violated the agreement—by not releasing Arbel Yehoud, as pledged—people from northern Gaza would not be permitted to cross the Netzarim corridor until Arbel is set free. Shortly thereafter, the convoy reached Reem base, where the first emotional reunions occurred.
Following a brief time with their parents and a rapid medical check, the hostages boarded an IAF helicopter bound for Bellinson Hospital in Petah Tikva.
There, they were reunited with their extended families, including siblings and, in one case, a long-time boyfriend.
Once again, the smiles on the faces of Israelis in the streets are unmistakable— as we all shared in the joy. That same joy was evident on the faces of television broadcasters, who have become all too familiar this year. I must confess, as I write this, the TV news is replaying some of today's scenes, and once again, tears come to my eyes. It has been an incredibly emotional year, and these remarkably brave young women have demonstrated exceptional strength.
Tonight, efforts are underway to determine why Arbel Yehoud was not released. Initially, Islamic Jihad made the outrageously claimed that she was a member of Israel’s “Army Space Command”— though in reality, Arbel works at a planetarium. No further explanation has been provided. However, Hamas has assured the international community that Arbel is still alive. Israel is awaiting for proof of life, which has not yet been received.
Currently, Palestinians are not allowed to cross the Netzarim corridor—a restriction that Hamas is eager to lift.
A few new details have emerged about the conditions under which the hostages were held. They were moved between underground tunnels and locations above ground sites. Throughout their year-plus captivity, they learned Arabic and stayed informed about current events by watching Al Jazeera, which kept them aware of their parents' efforts to secure their release. Until the final days, they were held together with Agam Berger, the fifth tatzpitanit (reconnaissance observer soldier), who is also understood to be in reasonable physical health.
Israel has, as of midnight, received a list detailing which hostages are alive and which are deceased—information that Hamas was supposed to release today as per the agreement.
Conversely, the other, side of this day was the release of 300 terrorists, including those with blood on their hands. There were only a few images capturing the celebrations in East Jerusalem as some of the released terrorists arrived. It's hard to fathom the feelings of the families of the victims today.
Meanwhile, settlers resumed their attacks on Palestinian villages in the West Bank.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RELEASES 2,000 POUND BOMBS
Tonight, reports have emerged that the Trump White House has lifted the embargo on transferring MK-84 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. Some of the bombs are reportedly stored in U.S. warehouses in Israel and are expected to be transferred imminently.
BUSINESS
The BIRD Foundation, a collaborative U.S.-Israeli government initiative, has awarded grants to several joint ventures pushing the boundaries of technological innovation. These partnerships are set to address critical challenges across diverse fields such as healthcare, quantum computing, cancer detection, and autonomous vehicles. Here’s a closer look at the groundbreaking projects:
Revolutionizing Surgery with Advanced Anesthesia Monitoring: Medasense (Ramat Gan, Israel) and Blink Device Company (Seattle, WA) are collaborating to develop an advanced anesthesia monitoring system. This innovative solution will track pain, muscle relaxation, and levels of consciousness during surgery, empowering doctors to make accurate, real-time decisions. The system promises to enhance patient safety and surgical outcomes.
Advancing Practical Quantum Computing: Qedma (Tel Aviv, Israel) and Amazon Web Services (Seattle, WA) are working together to drive breakthroughs in quantum computing. The team is focused on developing HPC-enhanced quantum error mitigation technology designed to execute larger quantum circuits, a key step toward making quantum computing viable for practical applications.
AI-Powered Home Monitoring for Chronic Conditions: RespirAI Medical (Tel Aviv, Israel) and Right at Home (Omaha, NE) are developing a home monitoring platform powered by artificial intelligence. This system aims to help individuals with multiple chronic health conditions by providing early detection of flare-ups, enabling timely interventions and improved health management.
Early Cancer Detection with AI and a Canine Edge: SpotItEarly (Kibbutz Hamaapil, Israel) and Penn Medicine (Philadelphia, PA) are combining artificial intelligence with the remarkable olfactory abilities of trained dogs to develop early cancer detection technology. This innovative approach has the potential to identify multiple types of cancer at their earliest stages, significantly improving patient outcomes.
Compact Sensors for Autonomous Vehicles: TriEye (Tel Aviv, Israel) and Lumotive (Redmond, WA) are partnering to create a next-generation sensor for autonomous vehicles. By integrating Lumotive’s beamforming technology, based on LCM™ Chips (Light Control Metasurface), with TriEye’s CMOS-based SWIR imaging technology, the project aims to deliver a compact, high-performance sensor with applications in autonomous systems and beyond.
The BIRD Foundation continues to foster groundbreaking collaborations between the United States and Israel, funding projects that leverage expertise from both countries to solve complex global challenges. These ventures are not only advancing technology but also strengthening the bonds between two nations dedicated to innovation and progress.