Six months after returning to Israel, five female soldiers, Daniella Gilboa, Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, and Agam Berger, who were released from Hamas captivity, completed their intensive rehabilitation phase at the Beilinson Hospital's returnees unit.
This department, established to provide dedicated care for released hostages, has supported the soldiers since their return to the country, guiding them through a complex journey of medical, psychological, and functional treatments.
Now, with the completion of the first stage, the soldiers have entered a new phase of rehabilitation: periodic check-up days. This is a new treatment model developed at Beilinson by Prof. Noa Alikim Raz, head of the returnees department, and Dr. Michael Bakher, head of the rehabilitation department. The idea is to provide continuous medical and psychological support even after the intensive rehabilitation ends, to prevent deterioration and identify new needs in time.
Recovery process of the soldiers
The soldiers underwent a series of medical tests, including blood tests, physician assessments, and evaluations in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, and medical imaging during the first check-up day this week. Based on the results, each soldier will have a personalized treatment plan that will continue to accompany them for the coming years.
In addition to the medical tests, the day also included an experiential component: the soldiers met with dancer Julia Shahar, one of the winners from the Israeli Dancing with the Stars, and together they recreated the image of the reunion from the day Agam returned from captivity. According to the hospital, this meeting added a dimension of social strengthening and mutual support in the rehabilitation process.
"For the first time in six months, the five soldiers returned to the returnees department, which symbolizes for them, the transition from captivity to freedom," said Prof. Noa Alikim Raz, head of the returnees department at Beilinson. "Their rehabilitation, and ours as a nation, will not be complete until all 50 hostages return."
Beilinson explains that the new model aims to create a connection between the hospital's medical system and community doctors, so that each patient can receive holistic, long-term treatment. According to the rehabilitation team, this is a multi-layered journey that includes treatment for physical damage, addressing psychological consequences, and functional rehabilitation.
The rehabilitation process may take months or even years, with each soldier continuing to undergo periodic check-ups to assess both her physical and mental condition, and the treatment plans will be updated accordingly. The hospital hopes to create a unique continuity of care tailored to the complex experiences the soldiers endured during their captivity.