Claim: A video shows an Israeli hostage, recently released by Hamas, reuniting with her family.
Fact: The video shows an Israeli hostage, Moran Stella Yanai, reuniting with her family after she was released by Hamas back in November 2023. Yanai was not released as a part of the recent ceasefire deal in January 2025.
On 20 January 2025, just a day after the first group of three Israeli hostages was released by Hamas, a post on X shared a video in which a woman is seen to be reunited with family. The post’s caption states:
“Listen to her voice, crying “Ima, Ima” (mum, mum). Look at how she’s walking.
What did those fking[sic] bastards do to her?”
Moreover, in the comments section, the user clarifies:
“This is one of the hostages recently released from Gaza.”
On 15 January 2025, a three-stage ceasefire deal was announced between Israel and Hamas in an effort to halt the 15-month war between them. As part of the first stage of the deal, the release of hostages from both sides was agreed upon: Hamas would release a total of 33 hostages—women (including female soldiers), children, some older men, and the sick—at regular intervals, with Israel releasing about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
In accordance with this, three female Israeli hostages were released by Hamas on 19 January 2025, the day the ceasefire took effect, in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli hostages were Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, all of whom were kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October 2023.
As of 25 January 2025, four more Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners. All four women are Israeli soldiers who were abducted by Hamas personnel on 7 October 2023, namely Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check conducted a reverse image search of the keyframes of the video in the claim. This led us to the earliest instance of the video shared on Instagram, dated 30 November 2024. The caption of the post read:
“Today, a year ago, some of the abductees returned to us 🎗️And here is Moran Stella Yanai the Queen, at the first meeting. How much I cried then, happy, and how much I still cry, 101 🎗️ Still there 😢🎗️❤️🩹”
The video claims to show a woman named Moran Stella Yanai. Conducting a Google search for “Moran Stella Yanai”, we found that Yanai was an Israeli citizen who had been captured by Hamas on 7 October 2023. After 54 days of captivity, she was released in November 2023 and not as a part of the recent ceasefire deal.
To confirm that the video in fact showed Yanai, we then conducted a search for “Moran Stella Yanai” on YouTube, which led us to videos of her being interviewed by MSNBC, CBS News, Fox News, and The Sun after her release. Most importantly, these interviews featured images of Yanai’s reunion with her family, which match the keyframes of the video in the claim. Below, a comparison can be seen between a keyframe from the interview posted by CBS News (left) and the video in the claim (right):
As can be seen in the pictures above, the attire of the three individuals is exactly the same. Moreover, the background of both photos is similar too, likely showing a door or window panelled with a wooden frame.
Hence, Soch Fact Check concludes that the video in the claim does not show any of the Israeli hostages that were recently released by Hamas in January 2025. It is actually from November 2023 and shows Moran Stella Yanai, an Israeli citizen who was captured by Hamas in October 2023 and released a month later.
Virality
The post on X has amassed 6.9 million views.
On Instagram, the video was shared here and here.
On Facebook, the video was shared here.
Conclusion: The video in the claim shows an Israeli citizen who was taken hostage by Hamas in October 2023 and released the next month. It does not show any of the hostages recently released by Hamas in January 2025.
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Background image in cover photo: Hostages and Missing Families Forum
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