Families and isolated children, all kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri, a 21-year-old festival-goer. Here's what we know about the 13 Israeli hostages freed Saturday by Hamas as part of the truce agreement, according to accounts from their relatives to AFP, reports in the Israeli press and the Forum of Hostage Families. The releases bring to 46 the total number of hostages released, out of the estimated 240 held in Gaza since they were kidnapped in the October 7 attack.
Of these, 26 were released as part of the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, which provides for the return to Israel of 50 hostages over four days, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Four Thais, who were not involved in the deal, were also released on Saturday. They are in addition to 10 Thais and one Filipino released on Friday.
Five hostages had already been freed in October before the truce.
Hila (13 years old) and her friend Emily (9 years old)
Hila and Emily, two friends aged 13 and 9, were abducted together, along with Hila's mother, Reaya Rotem (54), who is still being held in Gaza. They were captured on 7 October while hiding in their mamad, the secure room in their home on Kibbutz Beeri.
Emily was initially announced dead, before being classified as a hostage. The Irish-Israeli girl, whose mother died of cancer when she was two-and-a-half years old, celebrated her 9th birthday in captivity on Nov. 17. "She spent her birthday in the tunnels of Gaza," lamented her grieving father Thomas Hand at a rally in her honor in London.
"We can't find the words to describe our emotions after 50 difficult and complicated days," Hand said on Saturday. "We are thrilled to see Emily again, but at the same time, we remember (...) of all the hostages who have not yet returned home," he said in a statement.
"An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned (to her family), and we breathe a huge sigh of relief," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.
Shoshan Haran (67) and his family
Adina Shoham (38) was abducted along with her daughter Yahel, 3, and son Naveh, 8. All three were Germans through Adina's father, Avshalom Haran, who was killed in the attack. Sharon Avigdori (52), Adina's aunt, had been kidnapped along with her 12-year-old daughter Noam. They were all at Kibbutz Beeri to visit Shoshan Haran, 67, Adina's mother, who was also released on Saturday. Their family is one of the hardest hit, as it includes a seventh hostage, Tal Shoham (38), Adina's husband.
Shiri Weiss (53) and her daughter
Shiri Weiss, a 53-year-old accountant, and her daughter Noga, 18, were abducted from their home on Kibbutz Beeri.
According to the accounts of their relatives, with whom Noga was in contact via WhatsApp messaging during the assault, the young woman was hiding under a bed when her mother was abducted. Chased away by the smoke that filled the house, she tried to hide outside, where she was spotted. The father, Ilan Weiss, had to leave his home at dawn to defend his kibbutz. He, too, was taken hostage.
Alma and Noam, 13 and 16 years old
The two teenagers Alma (13) and Noam (16) were kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri along with their father Dror Or (48) and cousin Liam (18). Dhor's wife and children's mother, Yonat, was killed in the attack.
The eldest of the siblings, Yahli, who is doing his military service in the north of the country, was not present at home.
Maya Regev, 21 years old
Maya Regev, a 21-year-old woman, was kidnapped along with her younger brother Itay (18), while they were trying to flee the Tribe of Nova music festival. Maya had been shot while on the phone with their father. He had tried in vain to locate their position. A few hours later, the siblings appeared tied up in the back of a pickup truck in a video posted on social media.
Originally from Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, Maya and Itay had returned to Israel the day before after celebrating their mother's birthday abroad.
Itay, who has not yet been released, is an avid surfer, while her older sister practices yoga and running.