Trump announces release of Princeton student Elizabeth Tsurkov after 900 days in Hezbollah captivity

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Princeton University doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov has been freed after being held hostage for more than two years by Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist group. Tsurkov, a Russian-Israeli dual citizen, was abducted in Baghdad in March 2023 while conducting research for her dissertation. She was held in captivity for over 900 days and, according to Trump, endured months of torture before her release.

“I am pleased to report that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton Student, whose sister is an American Citizen, was just released by Kata’ib Hezbollah (MILITANT Hezbollah), and is now safely in the American Embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months. I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up. HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Tsurkov’s family, particularly her sister Emma, worked tirelessly to secure her freedom. Emma confronted the Iraqi Prime Minister during his 2024 visit to Washington, pressing him to take responsibility for her sister’s safety.

On Tuesday, she celebrated the release on social media: “Our entire family is incredibly happy. We cannot wait to see Elizabeth and give her all the love we have been waiting to share for 903 days. We are so thankful to President Trump and his Special Envoy, Adam Boehler.”

Boehler, who led the administration’s effort to secure Tsurkov’s release, was credited by the family for making her case a personal mission. Emma also thanked US Embassy staff in Baghdad and the nonprofit Global Reach for their relentless advocacy. While Tsurkov’s physical condition remains undisclosed, her family and supporters say her return after more than two years of captivity is nothing short of a miracle.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had previously called on Iraq to ensure Tsurkov’s safety, expressed gratitude to Trump following her release. “Today, hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli citizen who was abducted in Iraq in March 2023, was released,” Netanyahu said in a late-night statement. He praised Brig. Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing, for his role in securing her return.

“This evening I had an emotional conversation with her mother and Avital, Elizabeth’s sister, and I told them that the entire people of Israel was happy to see her return home,” Netanyahu said. “We will continue to fight with vigor and determination until we bring back all of our hostages, the living and the deceased.”

Kata’ib Hezbollah, which carried out the abduction, is one of the most powerful Iran-backed militias in Iraq and is part of the country’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-funded paramilitary umbrella group. The US designated Kata’ib Hezbollah as a terrorist organization years ago. Its founder and leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was killed in a 2020 US airstrike ordered by Trump.

Tsurkov’s release marks another high-profile success for the Trump administration, which has made freeing hostages a central foreign-policy priority.