A first historic relief for the Israelis. Nearly fifty days since Hamas’ surprise attack in Israel on October 7, the first hostages held in Gaza were released. In total, 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and 1 Filipino set foot on the soil of the Jewish state at the end of the day on Friday, November 24. According to Israeli army spokesperson Doron Spielman, “there are approximately 215 hostages remaining in Gaza.”
“Among those released are 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom have dual nationality, as well as 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen,” ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said shortly after the release. The hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza by Hamas and returned to Israel via Egypt.
Among the hostages released by Hamas are four children, including one aged two, and six elderly women. “Their physical condition is good and they are currently undergoing a medical and emotional evaluation,” said the director of the Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Efrat Bron-Harlev, who received them. So who exactly are they? Le Figaro details their profiles.
Adina Moshe remained in captivity in Gaza for 49 days, according to the Forum for Families of Hostages and Missing Persons. “Age 72, Adina Moshe was kidnapped in Gaza on October 7 from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, after terrorists assassinated her husband Said Moshe. She has four children: Maya, Yael, Sasson and Amos. Today she is reunited with the arms of her children and grandchildren. She will be able to start helping raise her grandchildren living on the kibbutz and return to her hobbies: cooking, growing plants and reading books,” said the statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
“A cancer survivor, she suffers from diabetes and fibromyalgia, and takes many additional medications (blood pressure, thyroid),” explains the Forum press release, which specifies that she is an “unconditional lover of nature, in especially birds.
Despite her health problems, Margalit Moses enjoys hiking: “Last summer she went sailing in northern Norway. This winter she plans to travel to Mozambique,” continues the Forum, which concludes: “Margalit loves knitting and is constantly knitting cardigans and sweaters for her grandchildren. She participated in the knitted hat campaign for the neonatal intensive care unit.”
Daniel Aloni, aged 45, and his daughter Emilia, 6, have been reunited with their families. “Daniel Aloni and his daughter Emilia were kidnapped on Saturday morning October 7 during their holiday visit to Nir Oz to Daniel’s sister, Sharon Aloni-Cunio (who was kidnapped with her 3-year-old twins Emma and Yuli , and their father David Cunio). At 11 a.m., Daniel sent a final message to her family, telling them that there were terrorists in their house and that she feared they would not survive. Daniel and Emilia are now on their way to Israel,” the statement said.
Keren Munder, 54, and her young son, were visiting grandparents Ruth and Abraham Munder, 78, at Kibbutz Nir Oz when the community was attacked by Hamas. All were taken hostage. The child celebrated his 9th birthday in captivity. Abraham Munder is still hostage. Keren’s brother, Roee Munder (50), was killed in the attack.
Keren Munder, who lives in Kfar Saba, north of Tel Aviv, is a special education teacher and children’s volleyball coach. She works in a school in Bnei Brak, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. She plays volleyball as an amateur.
The 2- and 4-year-old girls and their German-Israeli mother Doron Asher Katz, 34, were also abducted from Nir Oz, where they were visiting their maternal grandmother, Efrat Katz, 69, who was murdered by Hamas. Doron’s husband, Yoni Asher, who remained alone at their home north of Tel Aviv that day, recognized his wife and daughters in a video posted on social networks by the Islamist movement.
Doron’s brother, Ravid Katz, and their mother’s partner, Gadi Moses, are still being held hostage. The latter, a 79-year-old farmer, tried to negotiate with Hamas to save his family members. He was eventually taken hostage as well.
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The video of his kidnapping, aboard a golf cart, had been shared numerous times on social networks. This mother of three is also a grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of seven. She lives in the Nir Oz kibbutz. “We don’t know how long she can go without her medication. I don’t know how long she will be able to survive like this,” her granddaughter warned on Facebook. His eldest grandson, Tamir Adar, was also kidnapped and is currently still being held hostage, according to information from Israeli authorities.
Islamic Jihad, a group that fights alongside Hamas against Israel in the Gaza Strip, released a video on November 9 with Hanna Katzir. She uses a walker and needs medication, according to her family. This mother of three children and grandmother of six is the wife of Rami Katzir, killed during the attacks, according to Israeli authorities. His son Elad, 47, was also kidnapped.
South African national Hanna Peri, 79, was on the phone with her daughter when Hamas soldiers burst into her home on Kibbutz Nirim. Her daughter then tried to warn her brother, Nadav Popplewell, to get to safety. In vain. Shortly after, a photo, sent from Hanna’s phone, confirmed that she had been taken hostage with Nadav. His other son, Roy, was killed in the attack. Hanna Peri suffers from diabetes, and sees very poorly in one eye.
A total of ten Thai nationals were released, not 12 as initially reported, the Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Four of the ten people released had never been confirmed as hostages by Israeli authorities, the ministry added. “The number of Thai nationals still detained is now estimated at 20,” the ministry said, adding that diplomatic staff were with the group of freed hostages and had notified their relatives.
The released Thais “will remain in hospital for at least 48 hours, while the Thai Kingdom Embassy will make all necessary arrangements for their and their families’ return to Thailand as soon as possible.” Some 30,000 Thais were employed in Israel, mainly in the agricultural sector, at the time of the October 7 attacks, according to Bangkok authorities. In addition to the hostages, Bangkok recorded 39 citizens who died on October 7, a toll that makes the kingdom one of the countries most affected by the conflict.
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed Friday evening that the Filipino national Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco was released by Hamas. “He is now safe in the custody of our embassy officials in Israel,” tweeted Ferdinand Marcos Jr., specifying another national remained in Gaza. “We remain concerned about the fate of our other national, Noralyn Babadilla, and will spare no effort to locate and secure her if she is indeed found to be one of the hostages,” he continued.