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Though the IDF initially encouraged rest and recovery, Ariev chose to continue, driven by a deep sense of duty.
By Shula Rosen
Karina Ariev, one of the Israeli soldiers abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attacks, has officially concluded her service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Ariev, an IDF observer who was taken hostage from the Nahal Oz base and held in Gaza for over a year, announced her discharge in an Instagram post on Monday, five months after her release.
During the brutal Hamas assault, Ariev bravely deflected a grenade and pretended to be dead to avoid being killed by terrorists. Once discovered alive, she was handcuffed and dragged into Gaza, where she endured more than a year of captivity under harsh conditions.
The October 7 assault, carried out by Hamas, marked one of the deadliest days in Israel’s history. More than 1,200 people were killed, and over 250 were taken hostage when terrorists crossed into Israel from Gaza in a coordinated surprise attack.
After her release, Ariev made the extraordinary decision to return to the IDF and finish her three years of military service. “I wish everyone was here,” she wrote, paying tribute to the fellow observers who were killed on October 7. Her emotional message highlighted the sorrow and responsibility survivors often carry.
“I survived for my family and for my friends so that I could tell their stories… and commemorate them,” she added. “I was lucky to survive, and that’s not something to take for granted.”
Ariev’s decision mirrors the resolve shown by other former hostages. Alongside Ariev, fellow observers Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa, Liri Albag, and another unnamed soldier expressed their desire to return to service soon after their release. Though the IDF initially encouraged rest and recovery, Ariev chose to continue, driven by a deep sense of duty.
In completing her service, Ariev not only fulfilled a personal commitment but also honored her fallen comrades, ensuring their stories and sacrifice are not forgotten.
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