Watch: The First Emotional Video of Released Hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov Back in Israel
After more than two and a half years in captivity in Iraq, Israeli academic Elizabeth Tsurkov has been released and is now in Israel, where she is undergoing medical rehabilitation for injuries sustained while held by the terror group Kata'ib Hezbollah.
First images and video have been released of Elizabeth Tsurkov, the Israeli-Russian academic who was held hostage in Iraq for over 900 days. The photos show Tsurkov smiling, but having difficulty walking, as she is assisted by her brother and medical staff at Sheba Medical Center. It is believed her difficulty walking is related to a back injury she suffered prior to her abduction, which was likely exacerbated by her difficult captivity conditions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Tsurkov, who described the harsh conditions she endured. She expressed her profound hope for the return of all hostages held in Gaza. Netanyahu told her that extensive efforts were made to secure her return and that Israel would continue to act with resolve to bring back all of its captives. Tsurkov thanked the Prime Minister and all the officials involved in her release.
Her family shared that her captors allowed her to listen to the radio, which is how she stayed updated on events in Israel. She even recognized one of the hospital staff members from a press conference she had seen on the news, a surreal moment that underscored her long absence.
The circumstances of Tsurkov’s release remain mysterious, with unverified reports from an Iranian news agency claiming she was freed in exchange for two members of the "resistance," one of whom was a Lebanese captain captured by Israel last year. However, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, Adam Boehler, attributed her release to a new executive order signed by Trump that imposes economic sanctions on terrorists and their affiliates. According to Boehler, this order was a clear message to terror organizations worldwide to release their captives. Trump himself had announced her release on social media, stating that she had been "tortured for many months" and that he would "never give up" on fighting for justice.
Tsurkov, who was in Iraq for academic research related to her doctorate at Princeton University, was received at the hospital under a protocol similar to that used for hostages released from Gaza. Her safe return marks a culmination of extensive efforts and offers a glimmer of hope to other families still waiting for their loved ones.
