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Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-born graduate student, returned to her home country on Wednesday following two years of confinement in Iraq.
Tsurkov, 38, of Russian descent and born in Israel, was abducted from Baghdad two years prior. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed her release on Tuesday, stating that the student from Princeton, whose sister is an American citizen, was now “safely in the American embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months.”
Tsurkov, who is of the Jewish faith, was reportedly kidnapped by the Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi’ite militia known as Kata’ib Hezbollah, or “The Battalions of the Party of God”, in early 2023 during her doctoral studies in Baghdad. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, along with Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, expressed gratitude to their Cypriot counterparts for their aid in facilitating Tsurkov’s humanitarian transfer through Cyprus to Israel.
It was shortly past midnight, Israel time, when the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Tsurkov’s release. Netanyahu mentioned “great efforts” led by IDF Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for captives and missing, which spanned “many long months”. In a conversation with Tsurkov’s sisters, Emma and Avital, he affirmed that all of Israel was pleased to see her back home.
Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s resolve to “continue to fight with strength and determination until we bring all of our hostages back home, both the living and those who have fallen.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog echoed these sentiments, expressing joy over Tsurkov’s release and his gratitude to those involved in securing her freedom. He gave a special thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump for his commitment to her release.
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48 other hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, a grim situation that President Herzog addressed, expressing hope for their imminent release.
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