The Israeli military announced the release of a soldier who had been held hostage by Hamas during recent ground operations in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces press service.
In the press release, officials confirmed that Private Uri Magidish, who had been abducted by Hamas on October 7, was freed in the course of the ground operation later that day.
According to the IDF, the released service member was in good condition and reunited with her family after the rescue.
On October 30, Hamas posted a video on its Telegram channel claiming that three Israeli women remained in captivity. The footage shows one captive addressing Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the militants accuse Israeli authorities of political and military failures tied to the events of October 7.
The confrontation began on October 7, when Hamas fired thousands of rockets into Israel and declared the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Simultaneously, a large incursion by militants into Israeli territory resulted in the seizure of equipment and a significant number of captives. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed that Israel was at war.
The IDF launched an operation named Iron Swords with the objective of degrading Hamas’s capabilities. The Israeli Air Force conducted airstrikes on numerous targets across the Gaza Strip, and Israel’s National Security Council moved to restrict critical supplies, including water, food, electricity, and fuel, to affect the Hamas-controlled area.
Earlier reports indicated that discussions persisted about potential timelines for the conflict’s evolution and possible paths toward de-escalation, but the overall security situation remained tense as events continued to unfold.