Mother of Israeli hostage, 20, whose death was faked by Hamas says she always believed it was a 'cruel game' by the terror group - after she returned alive

The mother of a hostage whose death Hamas faked said she always believed it was a ‘cruel game’ by the terror group after she returned alive on Saturday.

Daniella Gilboa, 20, was reported as having been killed in an Israeli airstrike by the extremists as they published an image of her in a white funeral kafan.

But she walked out of Gaza smiling alongside fellow IDF observers Naama Levy, 20, Liri Albag, 19, and Karina Ariev, 20, at the weekend.

Her mother Orly, 53, thanked Israelis for ‘being there with us, right beside us, even when it seemed like she had suffered the worst possible fate’.

‘You, like us, believed that Daniella was ok, that it was just a cruel mind game that Hamas was playing against us, and now it’s our turn to keep praying for everyone,’ she said.

Mrs Gilboa revealed that Daniella had seen them fighting for her on television in captivity and knew they had changed her name from Danielle after a Rabbi said it would give her ‘spiritual protection’.

She said in a statement at a press conference for the relatives of the freed hostages: ‘My daughter returned thin and pale and she suffered in captivity.

‘But she is still the same wonderful and talented girl she had been when they kidnapped her from us.’

Mrs Gilboa thanked Donald Trump ‘for everything you are doing for our hostages’ before she joined other relatives to give a thumbs up - a nod to the defiant pose the four girls gave in Gaza.

Liri’s parents and sisters also made a love heart to the camera, after she made the symbol after being freed. Her father, Eli, told journalists he ‘hates’ all those in Israel who had opposed the hostage deal.

Relatives of the youngest female hostages released on Saturday said they ‘have new images to hold in our minds and hearts’ now they are free.

Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, Liri Albag and Daniella Gilboa returned after 477 days in captivity and now face an ‘emotionally and medically complex’ road to recovery.

Daniella, 20, still has a bullet in her leg after she was shot on October 7, 2023, while there are fears for their vision after some spent 15 months in tunnels underground.

But doctors said the 19 and 20-year-olds are ‘stable’ and ‘better than we thought’ as they put in place ‘tailored’ programmes to nurse them back to health.

The four unarmed border observers were captured at Nahal Oz base and horrific images of their battered and bloodied faces went around the world following a powerful report by the Mail.

One of the most sickening images from that day showed Naama being dragged by the hair in bloodied pyjamas as she was thrown in a truck and taken to Gaza.

But the young women survived against the odds following an extraordinary campaign by their mothers and emotional images showed them being reunited at the weekend.

It comes as British hostage Emily Damari, 28, was discharged from hospital today a week after she was freed alongside Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.

Naama's relative Marissa Shemi said: 'Everyone knew Naama from the very beginning of the nightmare that we have all been enduring for the last 477 days.

'But now we have new images to hold in our minds and hearts - the images of Naama reunited with her family.'

Footage from the day showed Liri making heart signs with her hands and writing a message in a helicopter saying: 'I love you.'

Other released hostages described her as a 'leader' in the group with a great sense of humour.

Her aunt, Ruhama Albag, said yesterday: 'Liri has personality and that does not change. I was not surprised to see her write Liri Albag number one and her wave out the window.

'But I was shocked at her energy. I guess this does not go away. She is a special child and we have never doubted her inner strength.

'She is home now and will be in full control of her life. She has a strong family and wonderful parents and in time things will work out and become clear.'

Daniella, who Hamas cruelly claimed had been killed in an Israeli airstrike two months ago, is also said to be recovering well despite being shot on October 7.

Her auntie, Etti Schwartz, said: 'She still has a bullet in her leg, which hasn't been removed yet. You could see it in the video of her capture when she hopped on one foot.'

Describing their conditions in captivity, she added: ''I cannot share much, but I was told she ate a pita or two a day, until their stomachs swelled.

'Sometimes they would cook, but wouldn't eat. She was in a tunnel, in the dark, but they were together; that's the luck.'

Dr Michal Steinman, director of nursing at Beilinson and Sharon Hospitals, who is leading their treatment, said they are 'better than we thought.'

'Everything is treatable physically but mentally there is still a way to go and it is too soon to say.'

She told how they have had to 'write the textbook' on hostage treatment as nothing prepared them for how to deal with those held for 15 months underground.

They are braced for them to have lost their vision and developed skin conditions and hearing difficulties after so long underground in cramped, squalid surroundings.

Medics were also concerned Hamas may have drugged them. The four girls were seen smiling wildly as they were paraded in front of terrorists in a sickening handover ceremony.

While it may have been euphoria at being freed, those released in the November 2023 deals reported being given narcotics to make them appear happy.

'As part of our medical protocols, when they came to hospital we conducted checks to see if they have been given some medication or toxins. We made those examinations, but I can't give you more information.'

On the four girls' general condition, she said: 'They are still amazed from the fact that they have come from the darkness to the light and they can be with their mums.

'They can't believe it has happened. So mentally we will have to wait a little bit until the euphoria falls down, it is too soon to say, but they are standing on their feet smiling.'