Maya Regev, 21, who was released from captivity in Gaza on Saturday, met with her family at the hospital in a tearful reunion.
Video captured the moment that her family rushed to her bedside for hugs at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva.
Regev was kidnapped from the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im by Hamas during the terror group’s Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel. She is the first Nova festival hostage to be released. Her brother Itai, 18, is still being held hostage in Gaza.
“We are happy and excited to welcome our Maya home. You all watched the video of the emotional meeting, but our hearts are still in Gaza with Itai and the other abductees,” said her mother, Mirit Regev. “We want to thank the Cabinet and IDF for the deal decision, and you, Israel, for the enormous support, [for] our son, to the families of the abductees. We need you until the children, women, men and soldiers come home,” she said.
At least 350 people were murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival, most of them young men and women. Some 1,200 people were killed, and thousands more were wounded. As many as 240 people were kidnapped and dragged back to the Gaza Strip.
In a Hamas propaganda video, Regev is seen walking on crutches during the handover to the Red Cross.
Regev suffered a gunshot wound during the Oct. 7 massacre and was listed in moderate condition. The director of Soroka said on Sunday that she will need to undergo surgery in the future but is expected to make a full recovery.
“We are all very excited with Maya’s return to us, along with the other abductees who were released,” the family said in a statement.