Four mothers, two festival-goers, four teenagers and two Russian-Israeli women. Here's what we know about the 12 Israeli hostages freed by Hamas on Wednesday, according to accounts told AFP by their relatives, the Israeli press and the Hostage Families Forum.
- Raz Ben Ami, 57 years old
Raz and Ohad Ben Ami, 57 and 55 respectively, were abducted together from their home on Kibbutz Beeri. Ohad is still in captivity. In October, photos of Raz and Ohad appeared on social media, showing them separately in their pajamas and underwear, being pulled by gunmen in the street. According to his relatives, Raz suffers from severe pain caused by growths in the brain that press on his nerves. The couple has dual Israeli and German citizenship. Two of their daughters, who live in Kibbutzim Beeri and Kibbutz Nahal Oz, emerged alive and free from the October 7 attack.
Raz Ben Ami. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Reaya Rotem, 54
Reaya Rotem, 54, was abducted along with her daughter Hila, 13, and her 9-year-old friend, Emily, while they were hiding in the secure room of their home on Kibbutz Beeri. The two girls were released on Saturday. It was Reaya herself who messaged her brother that the assailants were abducting them. This was their last proof of life before their release. A qualified acupuncturist, Reaya works in a print shop.
Reaya Rotem. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Liat Beinin Atzili, 49 years old
Left alone at home by her husband Aviv, who had gone to defend their kibbutz Nir Oz, Liat Beinin Atzili, 49, was hiding in the secure room of her home when she was taken hostage. Aviv, also 49, suffered the same fate, but separately. The 11-year-old had managed to make a final phone call to a friend at 30:<> a.m., but had not given any sign of life. An American by birth and a lover of India, Liat is a tour guide at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. The couple has three adult children.
Liat Beinin Atzili. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Yarden Roman-Gat, 36 years old
Dragged into a car by assailants with her husband Alon Gat and their young daughter Gefen, Yarden Roman, a 36-year-old German-Israeli citizen, initially managed to flee with them, before being caught alone. Alon and Gefen, on the other hand, escaped their captors by hiding for many hours. The family, who until recently lived in Kibbutz Beeri, were only passing through Alon's family after moving out so they would no longer have to endure rocket fire. Yarden is an avid climber.
Yarden Roman-Gat. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Moran Stela Yanai, 40 years old
Moran Stela Yanai, 40, was missing in the attack on the Tribe of Nova music festival on October 7. Her family later recognized her as she sat on the floor looking terrified in a video posted on TikTok. An ethnic jewellery designer, she was presenting her work on a booth at the festival, participating for the first time in such an event. Moran is an animal lover, so much so that she has stopped eating meat.
Moran Stela Yanai. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Itay Regev, 18 years old
Itay Regev, 18, was trying to flee the Tribe of Nova music festival with her sister Maya, 21, when they were captured. Maya, who was released on Saturday, had been shot and wounded while on the phone with their father. He 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 Ramat Ha-Sharon, near Tel Aviv, Itay and Maya had returned to Israel the day before after celebrating their mother's birthday abroad. Itay is passionate about surfing.
Itay Regev. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Liam Or, 18 years old
Liam Or, 18, was abducted from Kibbutz Beeri while staying with his uncle Dror (50) and cousins Alma (13) and Noam (16). The two teens were released on Saturday, while Dror remains in captivity. Her aunt Yonat, 50, was killed in the attack. On October 7, a friend received a photo of Liam at the time of his capture.
Liam Gold. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Ofir, 17 years old
Fromir, a 17-year-old Israeli-Dutch basketball enthusiast from Ramat Rachel, south of Jerusalem, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri where he was visiting his girlfriend Yuval Sharabi, who was not captured. October 7 was supposed to be a big day: Yair and Sharon Engel, Ofir's parents, were supposed to go to Yuval's house to get to know each other. Fate decided otherwise. Ofir was captured along with Yuval's father, Yossi Sharabi (53), who is still being held hostage. Ofir's parents eventually met Yuval's mother, Nira, to fight together for the return of their loved ones.
Ofir. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Amit, 16 years old
Amit, kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri, spent his 16th birthday in captivity in Gaza. When the attackers entered her mother Tal Shani's house, they dislodged the family from her safe room and escorted her down the street. Once outside, Amit was taken away in a car with two neighbors. Her mother begged the kidnappers to take her instead, but one of them threatened her with a pistol in response. After her son's abduction, she took refuge with her daughters in a house until the Israeli army arrived. Amit surfs and skateboards.
Amit. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Gali, 13 years old
Gali, 13, was taken hostage at her home on Kibbutz Beeri, while her brother Lior, 16, was murdered. She tried to flee through the window with her father Ilya Tarshansky but was captured by the attackers, her relatives said. His father managed to escape. Gali plays volleyball on the local team and is very fond of dogs. His faithful companion Mocha was killed in the attack.
Gali. HOSTAGES AND MISSING FAMILIES FO / REUTERS
- Irena Tati (73) and her daughter Yelena Trupanov (50)
Russian-Israeli nationals Irena Tati and Yelena Trupanov, a mother and daughter aged 73 and 50, were freed by Hamas, outside of an agreement with Israel, thanks to direct exchanges with Moscow. Like Russian-Israeli Ron Krivoy, a 25-year-old festival-goer who was released on Sunday. Irena and Yelena were abducted from their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz along with Yelena's son Sasha, 28, and his partner Sapir Cohen, 29. The father of the family, Vitali Trupanov (50), was killed in the attack. The Trupanov family immigrated to Israel from Russia in the late 1990s. Yelena Trupanov appeared in a video released by Hamas on October 30, alongside Danielle Aloni and Rimon Kirsht, who were released in recent days.
Russian-Israeli Irena Tati and Yelena Trupanov. -/AFP
The releases bring to 102 the number of hostages released, more than 40 percent of the estimated 240 people held captive in Gaza since their abduction on 7 October. Among them, 70 women and children have been released since Friday, in exchange for the release of 210 Palestinian prisoners, as part of the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas. Also released, outside the framework of the deal, were 23 Thais - including four on Wednesday - one Filipino and three Russian-Israelis, including a mother and daughter also on Wednesday. Five hostages had previously been released in October, before the truce.