After 903 days, Elizabeth Tsurkov lands in Israel after captivity in Iraq - Jerusalem Post Staff

 

by Jerusalem Post Staff

The Prime Minister's Office and Mossad welcomed her return, stating, "Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was held hostage in Iraq and released last night, has landed in Israel."

 

An ambulance arrives at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan ahead of freed hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov's arrival for treatment on September 10, 2025.

(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV) 

Elizabeth Tsurkov, the Russian-Israeli researcher who was held hostage by Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq for 903 days, landed in Israel on Wednesday evening and arrived at Sheba Medical Center for treatment. 

The Prime Minister's Office and Mossad welcomed her return, stating, "Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was held hostage in Iraq and released last night, has landed in Israel."

The Mossad chief thanked his Cypriot counterpart for assisting with Tsurkov's humanitarian transfer through Cyprus to Israel. 

אחרי שנתיים וחצי בשבי בעיראק: אליזבט צורקוב נחתה בישראל ומועברת לבית החולים שיבא@yuval_israelov pic.twitter.com/DPftA5yrT2

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) September 10, 2025

At the airport, Tsurkov was met by a senior representative from Hostage and Missing Persons Coordinator Gal Hirsch's team and a medical team. She will be taken to a hospital for examinations as part of the "hostage return protocol."

Announcement of Tsurkov's release

US President Donald Trump initially made the announcement that Tsurkov would be released.

Israeli-Russian hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov over a backdrop of Iraqi and Israeli flags. (credit: Canva, Elizabeth Tsurkov, SHUTTERSTOCK)

A researcher from Princeton University, she had initially arrived in Iraq through her Russian passport to conduct research on behalf of the institution, according to the Prime Minister's Office. Her initial kidnapping had not been disclosed for the first few months, and she had previously been reported missing.

"There's no feeling like seeing someone freed and realizing it actually happened," US Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler told The Jerusalem Post in a Wednesday interview.

Seth J. Frantzman and Amichai Stein contributed to this report.

Jerusalem Post Staff

Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-867055

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