Freed Hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov to Return to Israel Today
In a dramatic end to a two-and-a-half-year ordeal, Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov is expected to be flown to Israel this afternoon after being freed from an Iranian-backed militia.
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After more than two years in captivity, Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov is expected to be flown to Israel this afternoon. Upon her arrival, she will be taken to a hospital, following a protocol similar to the one used for hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza.
Tsurkov’s mother, Irina, spoke to Army Radio after receiving the news of her daughter's release, saying, "I'm going crazy. It's crazy joy, happiness. I've waited for this moment for almost two and a half years." She added that she "hopes all the families of our hostages get the same news" and that all those held captive are released soon.
A Princeton University doctoral student, Tsurkov was kidnapped on March 21, 2023, by the Iranian-backed Kataeb Hezbollah militia while conducting research in Iraq. The group claimed she was spying for Israel, a charge that both her family and Israel have denied.