Israel at war: What happened on day 51?

Thirteen Israeli citizens taken hostage in Gaza were released by Palestinian terror group Hamas and brought back into Israel by the IDF, Israel confirmed on Sunday evening.

In addition, one Russian-Israeli was released as requested by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as three Thai citizens. The four were released via the Rafah crossing.

Hostages arrived in IDF custody and reentered Israel on Sunday evening. Elma Avraham was rushed to a hospital by helicopter upon reentry in serious condition, Israeli media reported. The remaining 12 freed hostages are arriving at Hatzerim Airbase in the Negev for an initial medical assessment.

The list of released hostages included: Avigail Idan, three years old; the Brodutch family: Hagar (40), Ofri (10), Yuval (8) and Uriah (4); Ella and Dafna Elyakim, eight and 15 years old; the Almog-Goldstein family: Chen (48), Agam (17), Gal (11) and Tal (9); Elma Avraham, 84 years old; Aviva Siegel, 64 years old.

Roni Krivoy is the hostage who holds Russian citizenship, who was released thanks to direct intervention from Putin. He was welcomed back to Karmiel by Mayor Moshe Koninski, who said "The city of Karmiel welcomes Roni's release and rejoices together with his parents Oleg and Marina and brothers Yulia and Igor."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the first Israeli head of state to travel to Gaza in two decades when he visited IDF troops stationed there on Sunday and was shown Hamas tunnels.

“We continue until the end - until victory,” Netanyahu said as he pledged to continue the Gaza war until he has ousted Hamas from Gaza.

“Nothing will stop us. We are convinced that we have the power, the strength, the will, and the determination to achieve all the war's goals, and we will,” he said.

Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza to its internationally recognized border with the enclave in 2005, destroying 21 settlements there, and handing over control of the territory to the Palestinian Authority. Hamas forcibly seized control of Gaza in 2007 in a bloody coup, in which it expelled the PA’s Fatah party from the enclave.

US President Joe Biden spoke about the Gaza hostages at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, the White House said on Sunday.

Happening Now: President Biden delivers remarks on the release of hostages from Gaza. https://t.co/szqyYvhwcT

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 26, 2023

Avigail Idan, a three-year-old hostage singled out by US President Joe Biden, was released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip after 52 days.

Udab became an orphan during the October 7 massacre, when her parents, Roy and Samdar, were murdered by Hamas terrorists.

Idan, who holds American citizenship, has become a symbol of sorts for the nearly 40 children held captive by Hamas after Biden discussed her plight with Qatar's Emir.

She hid in her neighbor’s home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the massacre. Her older siblings, six-year-old Amalia and nine-year-old Michael survived the massacre, hiding in a closet next to their mother's body.

Avigail’s father, Roye Idan, was a Ynet photographer who tried to capture photos of the Hamas terrorists on gliders entering the Kibbutz.

One hostage released from the Gaza Strip on Sunday was rushed to a hospital by helicopter upon reentry in serious condition, Israeli media reported.

Israel on Sunday evening confirmed the identities of some 13 Israeli hostages released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.

The release of the 13 brought the total amount of Israeli hostages released as part of the hostage deal with the Palestinian terrorist group to 39.

Here are their names and faces.

Israeli sources say that Hamas has handed over the group of 13 hostages scheduled for release on Sunday to the Red Cross ahead of their exit from the Gaza Strip. As well as one Russian-Israeli released as requested by Putin, and three foreign citizens.

Hostages arrived in IDF custody and reentered Israel on Sunday evening, one hostage was taken to the hospital upon reentry.

Here is a list of the hostages released Avigail Idan, three years old; the Brodutch family: Hagar (40), Ofri (10), Yuval (8) and Uriah (4); Ella and Dafna Elyakim, eight and 15 years old; the Almog-Goldstein family: Chen (48), Agam (17), Gal (11) and Tal (9); Elma Avraham, 84 years old; Aviva Siegel, 64 years old.

Roni Krivoy is the hostage who holds Russian citizenship, who was released thanks to direct intervention from Putin. He was welcomed back to Karmiel by Mayor Moshe Koninski, who said "The city of Karmiel welcomes Roni's release and rejoices together with his parents Oleg and Marina and brothers Yulia and Igor."

Unidentified armed individuals were believed to have seized the Israeli-owned oil tanker Central Park in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, a US defense official said.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since a brutal war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas broke out on October 7.

It followed a seizure of an Israeli-linked cargo ship by Yemen Houthis, allies of Iran, in the southern Red Sea last week. The group, which also fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, vowed to target more Israeli vessels.

"US and coalition forces are in the vicinity and we are closely monitoring the situation," the US official said.

Central Park, a small oil tanker (19,998 metric tons), is managed by the Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime Ltd, a London-headquartered international ship management company, LSEG data showed.

There was no immediate comment from Houthi officials.

Israeli sources say that Hamas has handed over the group of 13 hostages scheduled for release on Sunday to the Red Cross ahead of their exit from the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli senior official told Israeli media on Sunday that "no delay is expected today in the release of the third group of abductees". This, after the release of the hostages was delayed yesterday by Hamas, claiming that Israel did not meet the conditions of the ceasefire. 

Egypt received lists of 13 Israeli hostages and 39 Palestinians scheduled for release on Sunday, the third batch in the four-day truce deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar, Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS), said in a statement.

"The truce is proceeding without roadblocks," the statement said, adding that 120 aid tucks crossed from Egypt to Gaza on Sunday including two fuel trucks and two with gas for cooking.

Israelis attend a rally calling for the release of Israelis held kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Gaza at ''Hostage Square'' in Tel Aviv, November 25, 2023 (credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)

Hamas releases Russian hostage after Putin intervention

Earlier, Palestinian terror group Hamas released on Sunday afternoon an Israeli-Russian dual citizen taken hostage from Gaza, it said, confirmed by TASS.

Hamas was set to release the Russians following the intervention and at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin.