Hamas Releases 10 Israelis
After spending 53 days in the hands of Hamas, 10 Israeli women were freed by the terror group on Tuesday, following an extension of the truce deal, which is expected to end today after 10 more hostages are released.
The latest hostage release encountered delays after Hamas terrorists violated the truce agreement and attacked Israeli troops in northern Gaza with gunfire and explosives. Several IDF soldiers sustained minor injuries.
Among the freed hostages is 17-year-old Mia Leymberg and her mom, Gabriela Leymberg. Before onboarding the Red Cross vehicle, Mia was seen holding her pet, which was believed to have been killed on October 7 when Hamas infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Captives Whose Family Members Remain in Gaza
Other hostages released on Tuesday include Rimon Kirsht. The 36-year-old woman was kidnapped while in her home in Kibbutz Nir Am. Her partner, Yigev, remains in Gaza. 53-year-old freed hostage Merav Tal was also taken into captivity along with her fiance, Yair Yaakov. Hamas captured the two in Kibbutz Nor Am.
Another released hostage is Klara Merman, aged 63. The elderly Israeli woman was kidnapped from her Nir Yirzhak home. Hamas is still holding several of her family members who, a day before the Hamas attack, held birthday celebrations for one of Merman’s granddaughters.
75-year-old Ada Safi, who was reported missing a few days after the October 7 attack, was also free yesterday. The mother of three and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor was captured from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Argentinian Immigrant Released
Ofelia Roitman, a 77-year-old Argentinian immigrant who has been living in Kibbutz Nir Oz for the past 38 years, was among the freed captives. Before Hamas took her away, she wrote several text messages to her family members, informing them that terrorists had invaded the Kibbutz. When Israeli soldiers arrived at Roitman’s house hours after the attack, they couldn’t see her. So, they assumed Hamas had taken her away to Gaza.
Other captives released on Tuesday after being captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz include Tamar Metzger and Diza Heiman, aged 78 and 84, respectively.
