Jewish Federations of North America are thrilled and grateful that Elizabeth Tsurkov, held by Iraqi terrorists for 903 days, is now free from her captors. Elizabeth, a Russian-Israeli researcher and PhD candidate at Princeton University, was doing field work for her dissertation in Baghdad when she was kidnapped in March 2023 by the Kata'ib Hezbollah militia after they discovered her Israeli citizenship.

 
Elizabeth’s resilience and courage throughout her captivity should be a source of inspiration to all. The Jewish community knows too well the pain of hostages and the urgent need to bring every captive home.

 
Jewish Federations send a warm embrace to Elizabeth and her loved ones as she begins the long process of healing, and continue to call for the remaining 48 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza to be released.