The grandmother of eight has become an icon for the resistance movement in Israel. Yaffa Adar (85) is the oldest hostage who was set free on Friday.
Here Yaffa Adar (85) is kidnapped by Hams after the attack on Israel on 7 October. On Friday, she was praised in Israel after being released after nearly 50 days in captivity. Photo: AP / NTB
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Published: 24/11/2023 22:42
Photos of 85-year-old Yaffa Adar quickly spread online after she was kidnapped by Hamas members on October 7. She was taken away in what appears to be a golf cart.
She was in her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas launched a shock attack on Israel. Almost 1,200 people were killed in the attack. according to The Times of Israel more than 100 people were killed at Nir Oz. On Friday evening, the 85-year-old and 23 other hostages were released by Hamas.
Now she is hailed as a hero in Israel. Among other things, because she remained completely calm and composed in a critical situation.
Yaffa Adar (85) kept her cool in a critical situation when she was captured by Hamas in October. On Friday, she returned to Israel. Photo: AP
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“Adar emerged as an icon of dignity and quiet defiance as footage emerged of her keeping a stiff upper lip even as ecstatic terrorists, who had just committed a massacre in her Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, took her captive,” writes the newspaper.
Writer Iris Böker has referred to her as a symbol of “Israeli resilience” on X.
The release took place after an agreement between Hamas and Israel.
Fact
These are the freed Israeli hostages:
Hanna Katzir (77)
Margalit Mozes (77)
Yafa Ader (85)
Hannah Perry (79)
Adina Moshe (72)
Danielle Aloni (44)
Emilia Aloni (5)
Ruthie Monder (78)
Keren Monder (54)
Ohad Monder (9)
Aviv Asher (2)
Once Asher (5)
Doron Katz-Asher (34)
Kilde: The Times of Israel
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Seven great-grandchildren
The 85-year-old is the oldest hostage released by Hamas on Friday. She has three children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Her stoic demeanor was so striking that many friends of her family have asked if she suffered from dementia. Adar’s granddaughter, Adva, told The Times of Israel the day after her grandmother’s abduction.
– She puts on a brave face, takes responsibility for the situation and shows her captors a glimpse of the unbreakable determination we all know she has, Adar said at the time.
Tamir Adar, another grandson of the elderly woman, is believed to be being held hostage in Gaza. The 38-year-old was probably captured when he defended Nir Oz.
Chana Katzir (76) has also been released by Hamas. According to The Jerusalem Post, it was reported earlier this week that she has died. Reportedly following an Israeli Air Force airstrike while she was being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Now it turns out that this was not true.
Chana Katzir (76) is one of 13 Israelis who were released on Friday. Photo: Reuters / NTB
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Cheers on the other side as well
At about the same time that Hamas released the hostages, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners. That is why there was also jubilation on the Palestinian side.
– Reunification with the family feels like a dream, says released Palestinian prisoner Amani al-Hashim Al Jazeera.
– I cannot believe that I am in my house, surrounded by my family, she tells Al Jazeera from occupied East Jerusalem.
The mother of two was sentenced to ten years in prison in 2018 after Israel accused her of trying to drive her car into the Qalandiya checkpoint. That was reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa at the time. She rejects this.
Al-Hashim’s family says Israeli police visited their home several times before his release today to warn them against celebrating.
– They cannot steal our joy, says al-Hashim. They are trying to steal this moment and not allow us to celebrate, but the fact that I am here with my family is in itself a joy.
2023-11-24 21:42:39
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