Here’s What We Know About The Hostages Released On Thursday

By Nsikak's punditry - November 30, 2023

Maps: Tracking the Attacks in Israel and Gaza

Half of all buildings in northern Gaza are damaged or destroyed, according to satellite analysis estimates.

Hamas freed another group of eight Israeli hostages on Thursday, including dual nationals from Mexico, Russia and Uruguay.

Hours later, the Israeli Prison Service announced the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

It was the seventh consecutive day of releases of Israeli hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli prisons under the truce, which had been renewed early Thursday morning minutes before it was set to expire. That extension was set to last just 24 hours, and diplomats expressed some pessimism about the prospects for another extension to be agreed upon before the current arrangement expires on Friday.

Here’s what we know about the Israeli hostages released on Thursday.

Mia Schem, 21

Mia Schem, 21, a dual Israeli-French citizen, was abducted from the site of the Tribe of Nova music festival where at least 260 people were killed in the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7.

She was shown in a video released by Hamas on Oct. 16, the first images released by the group of any of the roughly 240 hostages. In the video, she said that she had undergone surgery on her arm after being abducted, though the reason was unclear. (According to an analysis by The New York Times, metadata contained within the video file indicates that some of the footage was filmed at least six days before it was released.)

Amit Soussana, 40

Amit Soussana, 40, a lawyer, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza a few miles east of Gaza. At the time, she had been at home with a fever, according to The Times of Israel. Her family told Israeli news organizations that during the Oct. 7 assault, Ms. Soussana hid in a safe room in her house, but the attackers were still able to reach her.

She and her family are left-leaning politically and had called for peaceful coexistence with Palestinians. Her sister, Shira Soussana, said that the kidnapping has shaken the family’s sense of security. “We don’t have a belief anymore in people, it’s so evil,” she said, adding, “on both sides.”

Ilana Gritzewsky Kimchi, 30

A woman with long brown hair smiles at the camera. — Ilana Gritzewsky KimchiCredit...Hostages and Missing Families Forum, via Associated Press

Ilana Gritzewsky Kimchi, 30, is an immigrant from Mexico, according to the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum. Ms. Gritzewsky Kimchi was kidnapped on Oct. 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where scores of residents were murdered by Hamas.

Nili Margalit, 41

Nili Margalit, 41, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. On the morning of the attack, she texted friends to say that she was locked in a safe room with her dog and that for hours she had been hearing attackers walking around outside, according to The Times of Israel.

Ms. Margalit works as a nurse in southern Israel at the Soroka Medical Center, the Rambam Health Care Campus said on Facebook. Another former hostage, Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, told The Times of Israel that she had seen Ms. Margalit caring for other people while they were being held captive.