Princeton student freed after more than a year as hostage in Iraq

A Princeton University student who had been taken hostage in 2023 by Kataib Hezbollah militants in Baghdad was freed after more than a year in captivity. Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian citizen whose sister is an American, is currently in protective custody at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

President Donald Trump confirmed the news on Tuesday via a message on Truth Social, in which he noted that Tsurkov was tortured for months and celebrated her release. "I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up. HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW!" he wrote.

Confirmation from Iraq and Israel.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also announced the release, stressing that it was the result of "extensive efforts" by security forces over many months. He further stressed that his government will not allow armed groups to undermine the authority of the state or the country's reputation.

The Israeli government confirmed that the coordinator for prisoners and missing persons, Gal Hirsch, had led the tracing efforts. Following the news, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported that he had communicated with Tsurkov's sisters and assured them that Israel would continue to work to bring back all its hostages.

A year and a half in the hands of terrorists

Tsurkov disappeared in March 2023 while conducting academic research in Baghdad as part of his Ph.D. at Princeton. She entered the country on a Russian passport, and, months later, the Israeli government confirmed that she had been taken hostage by Kataib Hezbolá, a Shiite group backed by Iran and listed as a terrorist organization by the United States.

In November of that year, the group released a video in which the student appeared to make confessions under pressure, reinforcing concerns about her safety. During her captivity, both Washington and Jerusalem maintained contact with Iraqi authorities in an attempt to secure her release, so far without success.

Family reactions and thanks

The student's sister, Emma Tsurkov, expressed that the family is "incredibly happy" after 903 days of waiting. She gave special thanks to Trump, his envoy Adam Boehler, the U.S. Embassy team in Baghdad, and the Global Reach organization, which worked to achieve the release.

"'If Adam had not made my sister's return his personal mission, I do not know where we would be," she declared.