Trump Announces Release of Princeton Student Elizabeth Tsurkov After Two-Year Captivity
Former President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday that Princeton doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov has been released after being held captive for more than two years by Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.
Tsurkov, a Russian-Israeli dual citizen, was abducted in Baghdad in 2023 while conducting dissertation research. She had reportedly traveled to Iraq alone, entering the country with her Russian passport. According to Trump’s post on Truth Social, Tsurkov was “just released” and is now safe inside the American Embassy in Iraq.
“I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up,” Trump wrote. “HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW!”
The former president emphasized that Tsurkov endured torture during her captivity, though her current medical condition has not been disclosed.
Tsurkov’s case drew international attention, with human rights groups and academic institutions calling for her release. In 2023, rallies were held in Gaza City by the Palestinian Prisoners Committee, demanding her freedom in exchange for Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
On Tuesday night, Fox News panelists Dr. Sheila Nazarian, Shirin Yadegar, and Rabbi Chaim Mentz discussed the breakthrough, linking it to broader hostage negotiations amid ongoing pressure on Hamas.
While details surrounding the circumstances of her release remain unclear, Trump’s announcement has sparked renewed calls for the immediate return of other hostages still held in the Middle East.
“Elizabeth’s freedom is a relief,” Yadegar said. “But all hostages need to come home—now.”
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