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."

Hamas terrorists released an additional 13 hostages and four foreign workers to return back to Israel late Saturday night, leading to family members of the missing to share their reunion tales while continuing to call for the return of the remaining hostages.

According to the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, families of survivors rescued from Hamas captivity have expressed their gratitude for reunions, while simultaneously calling for further release of those still held hostage.

Family members of 72-year-old Adina Moshe, who was released Friday night after 49 days as a hostage in Gaza, continue to call for the return of the captives.

"The whole family are here together because even though she came back, we are here to support all the other families, we are all one big family, and our family will stay here until everybody will get back home. Bring them home now!"

Families of the released recalled not having spoken to their loved ones yet, but that they had seen them through their TV screens before heading to the hospital to reunite.

Israeli hostages, who had spent 50 days in captivity in Gaza, are seen on a bus returning to Israel after their release on Saturday, November 25, 2023. (credit: screenshot)

Chen Avidgori, whose wife and daughter were kidnapped by Hamas and released late Saturday night, was able to embrace the reality of his loved ones coming home. 

"This is where my small story about this event ends. My heart... I'm ecstatic," he said with tears in his eyes. "It's insane. I had a good feeling about their release. My phone is blowing up," Avigdori told Israeli media. "We knew since yesterday that this was supposed to happen, but we didn't talk about it. I'm feeling nervous, but also happy."

Zohar Avigdori, who is the uncle of Noam Avigdori and sister-in-law of Sharon Avigdori, said: "We are very excited, our legs are shaking and we are impatiently waiting to hug our loved ones, Noam and Sharon. We don't forget for a moment that these are the same legs that will continue the journey to sustain us in the long journey that is still ahead of us - until the safe return of all the hostages."

While many families were reunited in the earliest hours of Sunday morning, others shared a sense of excitement and grief simultaneously. 

Late Saturday night, Adi Shoham was released alongside her family members with whom she was held captive by Hamas. Though five members of the family held hostage were released, one still remained.

Inbal Tzach, the cousin of Adi Shoham and the now freed Shoham family, told the Hostages and Missing Families Forum: "Like everyone else we watched our loved ones on their way home. We saw Adi with Nave, Yahal, Shoshan, Noam, and Sharon. Of course we are still waiting for Tal to come home, as well as for everyone else.

The Protest of the Families of the Abducted (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI)

"The struggle has not ended. This is the saddest joy and the happiest sadness, but our family is home. Keep fighting with us. We still have a long way to go. This is an emotional evening for the families who received their loved ones tonight. We will continue the struggle until everyone comes home."

The return of Emily Hand

Following the October 7th massacre, Thomas Hand was informed that his daughter, Emily, was dead. In a heartbreaking interview with CNN, he expressed the fear he would have of what his daughter would experience in captivity, believing that death was preferably to being held against her will by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

Weeks later, no evidence was found to prove that her remains or DNA was found anywhere near her last known location - at the home of a friend, where she was having a sleepover. Her father was at home nearby, which terrorists never reached.

After 50 days, 9-year-old Hand was released from captivity and reunited with her father.

"We can't find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days. We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again, but at the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return. We will persist in doing everything in our power to bring them back home," he said in a statement to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

"We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped and supported us during the last 50 days until Emily's return. We appreciate the unwavering support as we continue our efforts for the safe return of all."

Other released hostages, such as Yaffa Adar, the 85-year-old Holocaust survivor who was released Friday night, have vowed to keep fighting for those held hostage. Spoken through her grandson Alon Adar, who appeared at Saturday's rally marking 50 days of captivity, he shared that despite having been released merely 24 hours prior from Gaza, his grandmother wanted to attend the rally to stand in solidarity with her country.

“She was told to not come, but she is watching from afar and is proud of me and proud of all of us for doing this,” he said. Adar, like many other families of the captives, have expressed optimism and the need to keep pushing for the release of more hostages - until every one is home.

An entire country was moved late Saturday by the return of 13 abductees as part of the second portion of Israel's hostage release deal with Hamas, but unfortunately, some of them had to say goodbye to family members who remained captives of the terrorist group. 

Adi Shoma, 34, her 8-year-old son Noah, and her 3-year-old daughter Yahel from Ma'ale Tzvia were returned to Israel after 50 days in the captivity of Hamas and were forced to say goodbye to the family's 38-year-old father Tal Shoham in the meantime.

Mia Regev, 21, from Herzliya, who was abducted from the party in Re'im, was hospitalized in Soroka Hospital after being returned to Israel tonight in a complex condition, while her 18-year-old brother Itay, who was at the party with her, remains a prisoner of Hamas.

Mirit Regev, Mia's mother, said this evening: "I am excited and happy that Mia is on her way to us. However, my heart is broken because my son is still [in] Gaza, a prisoner of Hamas. I am going to hug Mia tightly, we will not stop until [all] the abductees return home." 

Mia Regev was released from Hamas captivity, while her brother remains a hostage. (credit: MAARIV)

Violating the agreement

Similarly, 17-year-old Noam Or and his 14-year-old sister Alma from Kibbutz Be'eri, whose mother Yonat was murdered in the massacre, also returned in the second round of the release of the abductees, while their father Dror and their 18-year-old cousin Liam remained behind.

Shiri Weiss, 53, and her 18-year-old daughter Nega were also kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Be'eri and returned to Israel tonight. The father of the family, Ilan, has been missing since the attack.

Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri, also returned to Israel, but had to say goodbye to her 54-year-old mother Raya, who was not returned by Hamas tonight.

This is a violation of the agreement by Hamas, which pledged not to separate mothers from their children.  

For the second time over the course of the planned four-day truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the terrorist group, responsible for the abduction of an estimated 240 hostages into the Gaza Strip on October 7, released a small group of women and children into the custody of the Red Cross, in return for Israel's release of three times as many Palestinian prisoners arrested for security offenses. 

The group disseminated a video of masked gunmen leading the hostages, six women and seven children ranging in age from 8-13, to the Red Cross vehicle that would take them out of the Strip. The video quickly circulated online, with some of those sympathetic to the terrorist group presenting it as a vindication of their behavior, on the basis that the kidnapped Israelis appeared grateful or warm toward their captors. Others presented it as further evidence of Hamas's cruelty.

Some expressed their opposition to sharing the video at all. Hen Mazzig, the pro-Israel activist, called it "gross" to share the clip.

In the video (which can be found here), the Israelis are seen smiling and waving to their captors as they are put in the white van that will return them home. "Goodbye Noam," one Hamas member says. The captive he is speaking to, 17-year-old Noam Or, was released with his sister Alma, 13. Hamas murdered their mother Yonat on October 7, and took their father Dror into Gaza, where the group continues to hold him captive.

It is not clear whether, or how, the hostages were coerced in the making of the video, but at one point a Hamas member audibly instructs two hostages, Sharon Avigdori, 52, and her daughter Noam, 12, to "keep waving," as they smile at the camera before the van departs for Egypt. At least seven relatives of the Avigdoris were also kidnapped to Gaza, where they remain in Hamas captivity. 

Israelis gather in Tel Aviv for the release of Gaza hostages on November 25, 2023 (credit: LIOR SEGEV)

Part of a larger propaganda campaign by Hamas

Hamas is known to consider public perception as a central component of its strategy. The terrorist group, which refuses to allow the Red Cross to visit any of the hostages not yet released, is at war with Israel, after thousands of the organization's members and others invaded the country's south on October 7, killing 1,200 people, of whom about 900 were civilians. Since the attack, forensic investigators have confirmed evidence of rape, decapitation, and burning of Israelis, including children and babies, by members of the brutal jihadist group.

Hamas had been running the de facto government of the Gaza Strip from 2006 until Israel's invasion following the October 7 attack. 

As part of a deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by the Qatari government last week, Israel has released about 40 of 150 Palestinian prisoners, all women or teenage males, who are held in Israel for security offenses, such as stabbings, shootings, or the transfer of explosives. In return, Israel has agreed to a temporary truce in Gaza, and will receive 50 hostages, all women and children, over the course of four days. 

Israel has said that its forces will remain in Gaza and continue to fight Hamas until all of its hostages are returned. 

Israel on Saturday confirmed the identities of 13 Gaza hostages released from Hamas captivity on Saturday, bringing the total of hostages released as part of the truce deal to 26.

Here are their names and faces:

Emily Hand, nine years old, and Hila Rotem, 13 years old

Emily Hand was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre and was reported as having been killed. The Irish-Israeli girl was abducted from a sleepover at her friend’s house in Kibbutz Be’eri, along with her friend Hila and her mother, Raya Rotem. 

Emily turned nine while in Hamas custody. Hila will be returning without her mother, according to Israeli officials.

Emily Hand, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from her friend's house on October 7, turned 9 in Hamas captivity in Gaza on November 17, 2023. (credit: Bring Them Home Now)

Maya Regev

Maya Regev, 21 years old, was taken from the Nova party on October 7 along with her brother Itay. On the morning of the attack, Mia's dad got a call from her, screaming: "Dad they're shooting at me; I'm dead!" Maya is set to return without her 18-year-old brother. 

Au téléphone avec sa fille, un père entend l'horreur

Extrait d'une conversation entre Mia et son père, au moment où elle est sur le point d'être kidnappée par les terroristes du Hamas pic.twitter.com/SQW1xxbiJG

— i24NEWS Français (@i24NEWS_FR) October 15, 2023

Noam and Alma Or, brother and sister; father remains in Gaza

Several members of the Or family were abducted on October 7: father Dror (48) and brother and sister Noam (17) and Alma (13). Yonat, their mother, was killed during the attack, and their brother Yahli survived because he was doing national service in the North. Dror is a chef and cheesemaker in the Be’eri Dairy. His wife, Yonat, created her own furniture line in Be’eri.

MEYTAL WEISS: Strong for them. (credit: CHEN SCHIMMEL)

Shiri and Noga Weiss, mother and daughter

Shiri (53) and her daughter Noga (18) were abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7. Ilan, their husband and father, left their home in Kibbutz Be'eri armed on the morning of October 7 after receiving a call to the kibbutz's emergency response squad. But he never arrived at the armory; that was the last they heard from him.

Terrorists broke into their home and kidnapped Shiri from the safe room and then set the house ablaze, while Noga was still inside. Noga eventually escaped but was still caught by the terrorists later and taken to Gaza. Two of the Weiss sisters, Meytal and Maayan, escaped abduction through sheer luck as the terrorists hadn't attempted to enter their apartments.

Haran-Kipnis-Shoham-Avigdori family

Several members of this extended family were kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri, with some estimates being as high as 10 members.

THE AVIGDORI FAMILY: Hen, Noam, Sharon, and Omer. (credit: Hen Avigdori)

The Avigdoris, mother and daughter, Sharon and Noam

Sharon (52), and her daughter, Noam (12), were kidnapped on October 7, while on a visit to family members at Kibbutz Be’eri. Hen Avigdori, husband and father, is a television writer whose mission is usually to make people laugh, but now, things are different and he's "on a mission to bring back my girls." Their 16-year-old son, Omer, was with Hen in Hod Hasharon so was spared the horror.

Shoshan Haran

Haran (67) founder of the Fair Planet NGO which helps bring innovative farming and agricultural techniques to less developed parts of the world. The project received praise from the Prime Minister of Bhutan and has been a key in increasing food security for nearly a million people in Africa.

A collage of a family kidnapped by Hamas during its assault on southern Israel on October 7. (credit: THE MEDIA LINE)

The Shohams, Adi, Yahel, and Neveh

Adi (38), her son Naveh (8), and his sister, Yahel (Yula - 3), were all abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri along with the rest of their extended family members. 

Despite the miraculous return of six family members, four still remain behind in Gaza, waiting to be released.

Hamas released 13 Israeli and four foreign citizens it had held captive in Gaza after a seven hour delay, ending a nail-biting night in which it was unclear if the second phase of the hostage deal would come fruition.

The hostages were handed to the Red Cross at the Egyptian crossing into Gaza at Rafah, from where they were transferred to Israel.

The captives, which were seized from Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7 attack, were sent to medical centers in Israel where they reunited with their family members.

Three Israeli hostages are seen on video prior to their release and return to Israel on Saturday. (credit: screenshot)

"We can't find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days," said the family of Emily Hand, whose ninth birthday passed while she was in Hamas captivity. "We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again, but at the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return."

For residents of the Hands' home kibbutz of Be'eri, one of the communities worst hit by last month's attack by Hamas, the release of some of the hostages abducted on October 7 brought a measure of relief tinged with sadness.

Comes after night of delays, uncertainty

The release came after hours of delays and uncertainty. Close to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Hamas stated that “the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas responded to the estimated Egyptian Qatari efforts that moved throughout the day to ensure the continuation of the temporary armistice agreement after transferring them the commitment of the occupation to all the conditions stipulated in the agreement.”

It had earlier argued that not enough humanitarian aid had entered Gaza through the Egyptian crossing at Rafah and that Israel had not freed agreed-upon Palestinian prisoners based on seniority.

Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials had worked to save the deal.

Immense pressure from behind the scenes on Hamas came from Qatar, urging them to adhere to the planned ceasefire, according to N12. The Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed that 39 Palestinians will be released in exchange for the release of 13 hostages, they also confirmed that 7 foreign nationals would be released as well.

Prime Minister Netanyahu also held a situation assessment with top security officials to make sure that the second phase of the deal would proceed as expected, his office stated.

The delay had come as Israel prepared to receive some 13 hostages, whose families had already been notified. Some seven foreigners are also expected to be freed on Saturday night.

Al Jazeera had already announced that the hostage deal was underway, when it became clear that no such step was taking place. 

MK Yuli Edelstein tweeted on the situation, saying: "There is a fundamental Arabic value, translated to 'patience is the key to victory.' They have patience, but so do we."

בערבית יש ערך יסוד שהתרגום החופשי שלו הוא 'סבלנות מפתח לניצחון'.
להם יש סבלנות, אבל גם לנו.
הם ינסו למתוח את החבל, אבל אנחנו נחליט מתי הזמן לקרוע את החבל. הם ינסו לשחק איתנו ואנחנו נגיב בזמן ובדרך הנכונה לנו. בזהירות, בנחישות. כל צעד מחושב קדימה עד שכולם יהיו פה. עד לניצחון.

— Yuli Edelstein 🇮🇱 יולי אדלשטיין (@YuliEdelstein) November 25, 2023

He continued "They will try to stretch the rope, but we will decide when it is time to tear the rope. They will try to play with us and we will respond at the right time and in the right way for us. Carefully, resolutely. Every step is calculated forward until everyone is here. Until victory."

Families of Israeli hostages were notified to start heading to medical facilities across Israel as they await the arrival of their loved ones, all women and children from Kibbutz Be'eri.

First phase of the deal was executed successfully Friday

The first phase of the deal, which would see 50 captives freed in four days in exchange for a pause in the war and the release of 150 jailed Palestinian women and minors, was successfully executed on Friday.

Thirteen Israeli captives were freed and 39 Palestinian prisoners were freed. Hostilities had ceased on Friday already at 10 a.m. and an increased number trucks with humanitarian aid moved into Gaza.

The mechanisms of the deal allowed for it to be extended for another five days, by which 10 hostages would be freed every 24 hours. 

In an unusual move, a delegation of Qatari officials landed in Israel on Saturday to discuss extending deal, according to KAN news.

The delay had sparked speculation that the deal was off and the war would be resumed. But as of 9 p.m., it appeared that the crisis had been resolved.

Israeli hostages, who had spent 50 days in captivity in Gaza, are seen on a bus returning to Israel after their release on Saturday, November 25, 2023. (credit: screenshot)

Hostages taken to hospitals in Israel, reunited with families

The Israeli hostages were taken to the medical centers at Wolfson and Schneider where they were reunited with their families.

Mia Regev was sent to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba. Regev, who was taken hostage during the Nova Festival, is in need of immediate medical treatment, but her condition is not life-threatening.

"This is the saddest joy and the happiest sadness, but our family is home," said Inbal Tzach, whose cousin Adi Shoham was visiting Be'eri, along with her children Nave, 8 and Yahel, 3 when the family was abducted.

However, with Adi's husband, Tal, still in Gaza, she said there remained a long way to go. "This is an emotional evening for the families who received their loved ones tonight. We will continue the struggle until everyone comes home."

The initial release on Friday had given Israelis a ray of hope that all the more than 239 hostages Hamas had seized when it infiltrated southern Israel on October 7 would be freed.

On Friday Netanyahu said, “I emphasize to you - the families, and to you - the citizens of Israel: we are committed to the return of all our hostages. This is one of the goals of the war and we are committed to achieving all the goals of the war.”

That attack, in which Hamas had killed over 1,200 people sparked the IDF’s military campaign in Gaza to oust Hamas. According to the terror group close to 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza war-related violence.

The hostage deal has provided the first significant pause in the war since the October 7 attack.

Reuters, Jerusalem Post Staff, and Zvika Klein contributed to this report.