Israeli grandmother, 77, who terrorists claimed had died is ALIVE and among the hostages freed by Hamas in Gaza – as Palestinian Jihadi group accused of ‘heartbreaking psychological warfare’
- Hanna Katzir, 77, was one of 13 Israelis released from Gaza on Friday
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad had claimed she had died in captivity
- Israel says her release is proof that only ‘official’ sources are reliable
An elderly Israeli woman held hostage in the Gaza Strip was released by Hamas on Friday, days after it was claimed she had died in captivity.
Hanna Katzir, 77, was released along with 12 other Israelis transferred to Gaza following the October 7 attacks on Israeli communities near Hamas-held Palestinian territory.
Her release comes after claims by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), another Gaza-based militant group, that she had died.
The times of Israel, citing her family, confirmed that she was among those handed over to the Red Cross as part of an exchange between Hamas and Israel. The thirteen Israelis were released, along with one Filipino and ten Thai hostages.
IDF spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari said Ms Katzir’s release was “proof” that only official sources of information should be relied on.
Hanna Katzir, 77, was released along with twelve other Israelis brought to Gaza after the October 7 attacks
Ms Katzir was released from Gaza amid an agreement between Hamas and Israel
Ms. Katzir was seen alive in a propaganda clip broadcast by Palestinian Islamic Jihad on November 9, 2023, prior to their false announcement of her death
He added that all released hostages had undergone initial medical tests and were in good condition.
βWe had previously expressed willingness to release (Ms. Katzir) on humanitarian grounds,β the al-Quds Brigades, PIJ’s armed wing, had said in Telegram on Tuesday.
“But the enemy’s procrastination led to the loss of her life.”
“In light of this announcement, we renew our affirmation that we abdicate our responsibility to our enemy prisoners in light of the barbaric, frenzied bombing of every inch of the Gaza Strip.”
Israeli analyst Eli Kowaz, senior adviser to the Israel Policy Forum, wrote that the false reports about Ms. Katzir’s death were “psychological warfare.”
βThis sick manipulation is the psychological warfare that will intensify in the coming days,β he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Aviva Klompas, former head of speechwriting at the Israeli Mission to the United Nations, also accused Palestinian Islamic Jihad of engaging in “heartbreaking psychological warfare” in a post on X.
Ms. Katzir, a mother of three and grandmother of six, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with her son and dozens of neighbors on October 7.
Her husband, Avraham ‘Rami’, was murdered.
Ms. Katzir’s son, Elad, remains in captivity. Nothing more is known about him since his arrest.
There was a video released by PIJ of Ms Katzir on November 9 β two weeks before the false announcement of her death β in which she was heard saying: βI am in a place that is not mine. I miss home, my children, my husband Rami and the whole, sweet, beloved family.’
βI send you my warmest regards,β she said. “I hope everyone is safe.”