In a remarkable turn of events, an Israeli woman, Hanna Katzir, in her mid-to-late 70s, previously believed to have been killed, has been found alive and among the 13 hostages freed on Friday. Katzir's abduction from her home in the Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 sent shockwaves through the nation, especially after her husband, Rami, was tragically killed during the incident. However, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's claim of her death was proven false as IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced her rescue.

Katzir's name, alongside several others from her kibbutz, was released by the Israeli government as part of a list of hostages freed on Friday. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad had earlier claimed, in a post on their Telegram channel, that Katzir had died due to the "enemy's procrastination." However, after a grueling 49 days in captivity, Katzir was reunited with her family.

Liat Bell Sommer, a spokeswoman for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, described Katzir as a woman with a big heart who dedicated her life to caring for others. Katzir, a mother to three children and grandmother to six grandchildren, had worked as a caretaker in the kibbutz for many years. She and her husband were known to be inseparable.

Alongside Katzir's rescue, the names of 12 other hostages were also released on Friday. Among them were Adina Moshe and Yaffa Adar, who were both kidnapped from the same community as Katzir, Kibbutz Nir Oz. Adar's desperate plea for her grandmother's safe return was widely shared on social media, as another grandchild of Adar's remains in captivity.

Hanna Peri, a 79-year-old diabetic woman from Kibbutz Nirim, was also among the hostages freed. Described as an active individual, Peri has lived and worked at the kibbutz's grocery store since immigrating to Israel from South Africa in the 1960s. Tragically, on the same day she was kidnapped, one of her children was killed, while another was taken captive.

Ohad Munder, a 9-year-old boy, and his mother Keren were visiting their grandparents Ruthy and Avraham in Kibbutz Nir Or when they were kidnapped. Keren, a children's volleyball coach and special education teacher, resides in Kfar Saba with her son. Ruthy, 78, had retired after working as the librarian and seamstress of the kibbutz.

Doron Katz Asher and her two daughters, Aviv and Raz, were also among the released hostages. The family had been visiting their grandmother at Kibbutz Nir Oz when they were kidnapped. Doron, who works as an accountant, lives in Ganot Hadar. Her husband, Yoni Asher, received a distressing call from his wife before discovering videos on social media showing his family packed into a vehicle.

Margalit Moses, a cancer survivor with diabetes and fibromyalgia, was another hostage freed. Despite her health conditions, Moses is an avid hiker and bird watcher. She even participated in a hat knitting campaign for a neonatal intensive care unit. With a passion for travel, she sailed in Norway last summer and plans to visit Mozambique this winter.

Lastly, Daniel Aloni and her daughter, Emilia, were kidnapped during their vacation to Kibbutz Nir Oz. Daniel sent a harrowing message to her family, expressing her fears for her safety due to the presence of terrorists inside her sister's home. Daniel's sister, Sharon Aloni-Cuino, along with her 3-year-old twins and husband, was also abducted.

The release of these hostages brings hope and relief to their families, who have endured weeks of anguish and uncertainty. The Israeli authorities have vowed to continue efforts to secure the safe return of any remaining captives. The nation celebrates the joyous reunion of these brave individuals with their loved ones after enduring such a traumatic experience.