An Israeli hostage who was reported to have been killed in captivity in Gaza by an Israeli airstrike was freed by Hamas on Friday.
Hannah Katzir, 77, was among the 13 Israeli hostages released Friday as part of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas, the Times of Israel reported.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad had said Katzir was killed in an Israeli attack several days ago.
The group wrote in a Telegram message, translated by Reuters: “We previously expressed our willingness to release her for humanitarian reasons, but the enemy was stalling and this led to her death.”
Turkish state-run news outlet Anadolu Agency also quoted the terrorist group as saying, “We announce the death of settler Hannah Katzir, whom we had previously expressed our willingness to release for humanitarian reasons.
“But the procrastination of the enemy led to the loss of her life.”
Reports that Hannah Katzir had been killed turned out to be false. Getty Images
People react as the release of hostages is announced, amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 24, 2023. REUTERS“In light of this announcement, we renew our affirmation of renouncing our responsibility towards our enemy prisoners in light of the barbaric frenzied bombing of every inch of the Gaza Strip.”
But on Friday, Katzir was among those safely being transported in emergency vehicles back to Israel, the Times of Israel reported.
“This sick manipulation is the psychological warfare that will intensify in the coming days,” Eli Kowaz, a senior advisor for the Israel Policy Forum, wrote in response.
Hannah Katzir at a kibbutz in 2019.
Katzir — a mother of three and grandmother of six — and her son were among the 75 people abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7.
Her husband of 55 years, Avraham “Rami” Katzir was killed, along with 37 others.
The two were among the founders of the kibbutz on the Gaza border.
Hannah Katzir, Left, has been released from captivity by Hamas. Elad Katzir, center, is still a hostage. Rami, right, was killed in the Kibbutz Dalit
Hannah Katzir was one of thirteen hostages who were released by Hamas during a temporary truce with Israel. Carmit Palty Katzir /FacebookOfficials from the al-Quds Brigade claimed they were prepared to release her on Nov. 9 for humanitarian reasons.
She was then seen in a video released by the terrorist group in a wheelchair as she claimed Hamas “did everything” to care for her and her fellow hostages.
