An elderly Israeli woman that was held hostage in the Gaza Strip was released by Hamas on Friday, several days after it was claimed that she had died in captivity.
Hanna Katzir, 77, was released along with 12 other Israelis that had been taken into Gaza following the October 7 attacks on Israeli communities close to the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.
Her release comes following claims made by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), another militant outfit based in Gaza, that she had died.
The Times of Israel, citing her family, confirmed that she was among those handed over to the Red Cross as part of an exchange between Hamas and Israel. The thirteen Israelis were released along with a Filipino and 10 Thai hostages.
IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Ms Katzir’s release was ‘proof’ that only official sources of information should be relied upon.
Hanna Katzir, 77, was released along with twelve other Israelis that had been taken into Gaza following the October 7 attacks
Ms Katzir was freed from Gaza amid a deal struck between Hamas and Israel
Ms Katzir had been seen alive in a propaganda clip aired November 9, 2023, by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, prior to their false announcement of her death
He added that all freed hostages had undergone initial medical tests and were in good condition.
‘We had previously expressed out willingness to release [Ms Katzir] for humanitarian reasons,’ the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of PIJ, had said on Telegram on Tuesday.
‘But the procrastination of the enemy led to the loss of her life.’
‘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.’
Israeli analyst Eli Kowaz, a senior advisor for the Israel Policy Forum, wrote that the fake reports of Ms Katzir’s death was ‘psychological warfare’.
‘This sick manipulation is the psychological warfare that will intensify in the coming days,’ he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Aviva Klompas, the former head of speechwriting at Israel’s mission to the United Nations, also accused Palestinian Islamic Jihad of engaging in ‘heartbreaking psychological warfare’ in a post on X.
Ms Katzir, a mother of three and grandmother of six, was taken hostage along with her son and dozens of their neighbours from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.
Her husband, Avraham ‘Rami’, was murdered.
Ms Katzir’s son, Elad, remains in captivity. There has been no information about him since he was taken.
There was a video released by PIJ of Ms Katzir on November 9 – two weeks before the false announcement of her death – in which she was heard saying: ‘I am in a place that is not mine. I miss home, my children, my husband Rami, and the whole, dear, beloved family.’
‘I send you my warm greetings,’ she said. ‘I hope everyone is safe and sound.’