Freed Israeli Hostages Reunite With Families

Jerusalem, 26 November, 2023 (TPS) -- The 13 Israeli hostages released from Gaza had emotional reunions with their families after arriving at Israeli hospitals in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The eight children, four mothers and a young woman, along with four Thai nationals were freed Saturday night after an hours-long delay threatened to derail the Qatari-mediated temporary ceasefire.

Twelve hostages spent the night at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan. The hospital confirmed on Sunday morning that none required urgent medical attention.

“After a very long night of anticipation, at around 3:30 a.m., 12 hostages were transferred here, and I am happy to inform you that, although the days of captivity are evident on them, none of them need urgent and immediate intervention,” said children’s hospital chief Prof. Itai Pessach. “We will continue to support them physically and mentally.”

The thirteenth Israeli, Maya Regev, 21, was the only captive requiring immediate medical treatment and was taken he Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva where she was treated for a gunshot wound. Doctors said she is in moderate condition and is expected to fully recover. Regev was seen walking on crutches as she left Gaza.

Regev, along with her 18 year-old brother Itai, were taken captive at the Nova Music Festival, where more than 360 people were killed. Itai remains a hostage in Gaza, in violation of Hamas commitments not to break up families.

Most of the Israeli hostages released Saturday were from Kibbutz Be’eri.

The kibbutz member said in a statement that they were “happy and excited” for the return of the captives, but added that “three children from two families from Kibbutz Bari were today torn from their only remaining parent. Hila is returning home – without her mother and wife who remained in captivity.”

Meanwhile, four released Thai nationals spent the night at the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Be’er Yaakov. None required urgent medical treatment.

The 13 hostages were identified as Shoshan Haran, 67, her daughter Adi Shoham, 38, and Adi’s children Naveh and Yahel, ages eight and three respectively.

Also freed are Shiri Weiss, 53 and her daughter, Noga, 18, Sharon Avigdori, 52 and her 12 year-old son, Noam.

Noam and Alma Or, ages 17 and 13 respectively, were also freed.

Also released were Maya Regev, 21, Hila Rotem, 12, and nine year-old Emily Hand.

Friday saw the release of Doron Katz-Asher, 34, Aviv Asher, 2, and Raz Asher, 4; Danielle Aloni, 45, and Emilia Aloni, 5; Ruth Monder, 78, Keren Monder, 54, and Ohad Monder, 9; Adina Moshe, 72; Channa Katzir, 76; Margalit Mozes, 77; Chana Perry, 79; and Yaffa Adar, 85.

At least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on Oct. 7. Another 240 men, women, children and soldiers were taken back to Gaza as hostages. Some people remain unaccounted for as Israeli authorities continue to identify bodies and search for human remains.