“I can’t tell you that I’m okay until all 59 hostages return home, until we know they are safe,” she said.
Interview with released hostage Karina Ariev
Ariev, who was stationed at theNahal Oz base during Hamas' October 7 attack, rejected the label of “heroine” for herself. Instead, she honored her mother and sister for their relentless advocacy during her captivity and paid tribute to 22 female soldiers from her base who were killed in the assault. Among them was her best friend, Aviv Hajaj.
“She was such a wonderful girl. She came from a home with strong values. She was humble and modest,” Ariev said. “I still talk about her in the present tense. I can’t bring myself to speak about her in the past.”
Reflecting on her life before the attack, Ariev described herself as an ordinary 19-year-old who spent time with friends, danced, cooked and made social media videos. Now, she said, her only focus is on healing and seeing the remaining hostages return.
“I really don’t have any dreams right now,” she admitted. “I just want to slowly return to my routine, to see everyone come back and to begin overcoming this trauma, which we are still experiencing to this day.”
Ariev also said she feels a responsibility to amplify the voices of those still in captivity, urging continued action for their release. “This struggle is important to me. It’s important that this isn’t forgotten,” she said.
When asked about the strength of women, Ariev pointed to faith, hope and resilience as defining traits. “The belief that in the end, things will be okay — that’s what makes you strong, helps you survive,” she said.
She also called for national unity, saying it is essential for overcoming hardship. “As the people of Israel, we truly need to be united, together. This unity is what allows us to win, to emerge stronger from everything, and to overcome anything.”