Key Points Summary โ Former Hostage Detained by ICE
- Former Israeli hostage Liri Albag detained by ICE at JFK Airport
- The system flagged her as still held by Hamas despite her release in February
- She was held for 477 days after the October 7 attacks
- Albag was released during a brief cease-fire earlier this year
- Her father says the incident was โunpleasant,โ but resolved quickly
ICE Flags Released Hostage as Still Missing
Israeli woman Liri Albag, who survived 477 days of brutal captivity by Hamas, was detained againโthis time at JFK Airport by U.S. immigration officers who believed she was still being held hostage.
Albag, 19, had traveled to New York with friends on vacation when American customs systems raised a red flag. According to Channel 12 News, the Israeli television outlet that first reported the story, the system had not yet updated her hostage status.
System Fails to Reflect Her Freedom
ICE agents reportedly questioned Albag for nearly an hour upon arrival, concerned that her identity might have been stolen or faked. Officials believed it was possible someone else was using her name, assuming she remained in captivity.
Her father, Eli Albag, told Israeli media the incident was quickly resolved. โTheir system still showed her as a hostage. They hadnโt updated the records. Itโs just a vacation. Liri wasnโt stressed. It was unpleasant, but it passed,โ he told Ynetnews.
Survivor of Hamas Horror in Gaza
Albag had been captured by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, while serving as a lookout with the Israeli Defense Forces at the Nahal Oz base near the Gaza border. She was taken into Gaza and held for nearly 16 months.
Her release came in February as part of a fragile cease-fire deal brokered by Qatar. That agreement briefly paused the violence and saw a limited number of hostages freed before the truce collapsed.
โWe Were Simply Afraidโ
In her first televised interview since her release, Albag recounted the terror of her abduction and the long nightmare of captivity. โThey told us, โIf you listen to us, we wonโt kill you. Youโre coming with us to Gaza.โ And we told them, โYes, take us to Gazaโ because we were simply afraid,โ she told Channel 12.
โThe truth is that October 7 feels like one long nightmare, and Iโve been waiting for someone to wake me up,โ she added. โBut that didnโt happen. Unfortunately, this has all been real.โ
No Official Apology, But No Drama
There has been no formal apology issued by ICE or the Department of Homeland Security. However, sources say the incident is being reviewed, and steps may be taken to update flagged databases more quickly in cases involving international hostages.
Albagโs father praised his daughterโs resilience, saying she handled the unexpected scrutiny in New York with calm. โShe was ready for anything,โ he said. โSheโs been through worse.โ