Liri, who has stayed out of the public eye, is joined by another former observer considering a return to the IDF, though their privacy is being protected.
By Eliana Fleming, JFeed
Liri Albag, an IDF observer held captive by Hamas for 477 days, is returning to military service in a meaningful new role, her father, Eli Albag, announced in a Channel 12 News interview on June 30, 2025.
Freed in January 2025 after her abduction from Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023, Liri underwent rehabilitation, traveled globally, and explored Israel before deciding to rejoin the IDF.
“She went through rehabilitation, traveled abroad to see the world, traveled within Israel, took vacations. She truly made the most of her time, and now she’s going back to the army this week,” Eli said, expressing full support for her decision to take on a “very meaningful position” distinct from her previous observer role.
Eli highlighted Liri’s resilience, stating:
“I’ve discovered that Liri is far stronger than I ever imagined, she even managed to outsmart me. I learned a lot from stories told by others who were held captive with her, things she never told me herself.” He added, “But I can’t be angry. I’m immensely proud of her. She shares things with us constantly, bit by bit. We’re not rushing her; she opens up when she’s ready.”
Liri, who has stayed out of the public eye, is joined by another former observer considering a return to the IDF, though their privacy is being protected.
Addressing online criticism Liri faced post-release, Eli said:
“Only when your own child is abducted will you understand what we’ve been through, then you’ll have the right to speak. I, for example, never criticize bereaved families, even if they oppose prisoner releases. I remain silent in front of them. But I will continue to tell those unaffected by this tragedy to keep their outside opinions to themselves, they’re a group of fools who have no idea what captive families endure, or what those who’ve lost loved ones go through.”
Eli also praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, particularly for recent actions against Iran, stating:
“I give him credit, including for the recent moves regarding Iran, those were bold decisions. Criticizing the Prime Minister is legitimate, but so is giving praise.” He emphasized the urgency of freeing the remaining 50 hostages, noting, “A state inquiry should have been launched long ago, but as a family with a returned hostage, and with others still in captivity, that’s not the top priority. The most important thing now is to bring them all home.”
Liri’s return, alongside fellow observers Naama, Daniela, and Karina, followed a determined campaign led by Eli and his family.
