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Karina Ariev, a former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) observer who was kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attack, has completed her military service, she announced via Instagram on Monday.
Ariev was one of five female IDF observers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base during the Hamas-led assault that marked one of the deadliest days in Israeli history. In a moving social media post, she reflected on her journey, expressing gratitude for her survival and deep sorrow for the comrades she lost.
“I wish everyone was here,” Ariev wrote, referring to her fellow observers who were killed in the attack. “I survived for my family and for my friends so that I could tell their stories, fight for them together with their families, and commemorate them.”
On October 7, Ariev was captured along with fellow observers Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa, and Liri Albag. In a harrowing account of her survival, she revealed how she narrowly escaped death by pretending to be dead after a grenade was hurled at her.
A Hamas militant tested whether she was still alive by pulling her hand, eventually confirming she was and taking her into Gaza in handcuffs.
Following 13 months in captivity, Ariev was released and, like several other former hostages, expressed a strong desire to return to active service. Despite initial IDF assessments that the women needed time to recover, Ariev was eventually permitted to resume her duties.
Her recent discharge marks the completion of a three-year service term, underscoring a journey that began with dedication, was interrupted by trauma, and ended with resolve.
“I was lucky to survive, and that’s not something to take for granted. I will do everything to be worthy of it,” Ariev wrote in her post, which included a photo from her time in uniform.
She is not alone in her commitment to continue serving. At the end of June, Eli Albag, the father of fellow former hostage Liri Albag, confirmed that his daughter had also decided to return to the military, five months after her release from captivity. Like Ariev, Liri had asked to resume service soon after regaining her freedom.
The story of these young women has come to symbolize both the horrors of October 7 and the resilience of Israel’s military community. Their willingness to return to the IDF despite enduring unimaginable trauma has resonated across the country.
As Ariev transitions into civilian life, she leaves the military with a mission beyond her uniform — to keep the memories of her fallen comrades alive. “I will fight for them,” she vowed, “and make sure their voices are never forgotten.”