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May it be an incredible year

Freed hostage Liri Albag celebrates her 20th birthday!

The birthday she never got to celebrate at 19, stolen by captivity, makes today's milestone all the more significant - not just for Liri and her family, but for a nation that watched, waited, and hoped for her return.

Liri Albag turns 20

Liri Albag Marks 20th Birthday After Release from Hamas Captivity - A Day of Joy Tinged with Memory

Former IDF soldier Liri Albag turns 20 today, a milestone birthday that once seemed desperately out of reach during her 476 days in Hamas captivity. Her birthday marks a stark contrast to where she was just two weeks ago - before her release on January 25, 2025, she was among the hostages shown in Hamas propaganda videos, pleading for her life in clear psychological distress.

The journey to this day began at the Nahal Oz military base near the Gaza border. Albag, then just 18, was one of several female IDF observers taken hostage during the October 7, 2023 attack. The brutal timing of her capture made it even more heartbreaking - she had just completed her first weekend following basic training when Hamas terrorists overran the base.

The path to freedom was marked by her parents' relentless advocacy. Shira and Eli Albag watched in anguish as Hamas released videos of their daughter, seeing her in a state they described as unrecognizable from the vibrant young woman they knew. Yet they never stopped fighting for her release, making public appeals and pressing the Israeli government to secure the return of all hostages.

When freedom finally came through a ceasefire-hostage deal, the Albag family described their daughter's endurance as showing "superhuman strength." The words carried the weight of 476 days of worry, hope, and determination.

Albag herself, upon returning home, turned to social media with words of gratitude that reflected both personal relief and national pain - thanking the Israeli public, the IDF, and security services while acknowledging the heavy price paid by soldiers and civilians during this period. Her message emphasized unity and hope, even after experiencing such darkness.

While today marks a moment of profound joy for the Albag family, it carries echoes of those still waiting for their own reunions. As advocacy groups continue pressing for the release of remaining hostages, Liri Albag's 20th birthday stands as both a celebration of survival and a reminder of those yet to return home.


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