Elizabeth Tsurkov, 38, a Russian-Israeli and Princeton University graduate student, was released from captivity Tuesday evening after being held as a hostage by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq for more than two years.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said:
Today, hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov – an Israeli citizen who was abducted in Iraq in March 2023 – was released.
In staff work directed by Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, which continued for many months, and following many efforts, we succeeded in bringing about her release.
This evening I had an emotional conversation with her mother and Avital, Elizabeth’s sister, and I told them that the entire people of Israel was happy to see her return home.
We will continue to fig