WATCH: Naama, Liri, Daniella and Karina reunite with their parents - and we can't stop crying (happy tears)

This marks the latest successful hostage exchange since October 7, though numerous captives remain in Gaza. All four women were stationed at the Nahal Oz military base when it was overrun during Hamas' initial attack.

Their release brings renewed hope for families still awaiting news of loved ones held in Gaza, while highlighting the ongoing complexities of hostage negotiations in the continuing conflict.

Watch Karina Ariev reunite with her family after an unimaginable agony.

Liri Albag had barely begun her military career when Hamas attacked Nahal Oz base. Just 18 and fresh from observation training, she was captured only 36 hours after starting her first posting.

"She was motivated and so happy," her cousin Aya, an army corporal, told the Jerusalem Post. Liri had proudly shared news of passing her observation course before deployment.

During her 500 days in captivity, Albag managed to send messages through released hostages. Hamas released footage of her in January 2024, showing the then-19-year-old pleading: "I have my entire life in front of me, but now my life has been put on pause. The world is starting to forget about us."

Naama Levy is home.

Naama Levy's capture was brutally documented - Hamas footage showed the 20-year-old bound and forced into a jeep at Nahal Oz base. Yet even then, she spoke of friendship (not that it helped her): "I have friends in Palestine."

Her life before capture reflected this spirit. An active peace advocate, she participated in Israeli-Palestinian dialogue initiatives before her military service. Her family describes her as "a peace seeker" at heart.

In May 2024, her brother Amit shared footage of her capture to urge negotiations for her release. "She's handling the situation like the true superhero she is," he said, "like a hero fighting for her life."

Daniela Gilboa, 20, returned to freedom today after surviving a leg injury during her October 7 capture from Nahal Oz base. Her release fulfills a promise waiting at home - a marriage proposal.

Last year, footage showed Gilboa questioning why she'd been "abandoned" as war raged. Her mother Orly noted her daughter's strength despite concerns over her "poor mental state," while confirming earlier wounds weren't as severe as feared.

The personal stakes of her return extend beyond family - her boyfriend awaits with an engagement ring. "My son asked her parents for her hand in marriage," his father told Maariv. "Even though they're only 19-20 years old, they said yes. He shouted to the sky - 'I'm going to propose to you!'"

Her release now opens the door to that delayed proposal, and we wish her only blessings and a lifetime of love and success as she embarks on this chapter of rehabilitation.

BBC contributed to this article.