The family of released hostage Karina Ariev expressed immense joy on Saturday, celebrating that they “finally got to embrace our beloved Karina, hear her voice, and see her smile that once again fills us with light.
“Our Karina is a symbol of courage, heart, and determination, and we are proud of her beyond words,” the family added.
Ariev returned to Israel on Saturday after spending nearly 500 days as a hostage in Hamas captivity.
She was released along with fellow IDF observers Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag.
The family said also that their “hearts are with Agam Berger’s family and the other women still waiting for their miracle. We will not rest until everyone returns home. We will continue to act and support, through love and faith, that we’re all in this together.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum celebrated the release of Daniella, Liri, Naama and Karina - saying their newly returned freedom "represents a moment of light in the darkness" and a "triumph of spirit."
The forum stressed the need to continue working to return the remaining 90 hostages being held in Gaza.
Karina is a master at solving puzzles, including complex ones with over a thousand pieces, her family said while advocating for her release. She is also a talented flute player and speaks four languages fluently.
She volunteered at a kindergarten and loves children, they said. She also loves watching horror movies.
Karina is a Jerusalemite known for her love of cooking, singing, dancing, and creative writing, Ynet reported.
She was taken captive from the Nahal Oz base along with other IDF surveillance soldiers. Footage of the abduction, in which the women are seen being held by Hamas terrorists in the base’s shelter, some of them bloodied and apparently injured, was released by the families in May.
Last week, Hamas released 28-year-old Emily Damari, 23-year-old Romi Gonen, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher.
What do we know about Karina's time in captivity?
Signs of life were received from Karina in January last year when Hamas released a video of her alongside Daniella Gilboa and Doron Steinbrecher, who was released from captivity last Sunday in the first day of the hostage deal; Gilboa was released Saturday with Ariev.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum permitted the release of further footage in May, although it is unclear when the clip was filmed.
In the moments before Karina was abducted on October 7, she was able to speak to her family twice, Ynet reported.
Karina’s sister revealed to the Daily Mail that she was instructed to “keep our parents safe and to be strong and not to wallow in sorrow but to continue living” should Karina not survive.
“She didn’t tell my parents to worry about me; she told me to take care of our parents,” Sasha Ariev said. “That’s who we are. We are strong. This is the bond we have, and we are dealing with this together.”