An 85-year-old Israeli great-grandmother, Yafa Adar, gained global attention after she was abducted by Hamas terrorists while riding a golf cart. She was among the hostages released during a temporary ceasefire on Friday.
Yafa Adar was one of the 13 Israeli women and children freed from Gaza and turned over to the Red Cross as part of a four-day truce between Hamas and Israel. An image of Adar sitting defiantly on a golf cart surrounded by heavily-armed Hamas gunmen captured the world’s attention after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on her Nir Oz kibbutz.
Her granddaughter, Adva Adar, expressed her disbelief, stating, “I can’t even start to understand how people think it makes sense to kidnap an 85 years old lady, kidnap babies, kidnap kids. It’s not human.”
Despite the ordeal, Adar’s granddaughter described her as a strong lady, emphasizing that Adar remained composed and resolute during the terrifying incident. The elderly woman’s stoic expression reflected her determination and pride.
Following their release, the hostages underwent an initial medical assessment inside Israeli territory before being taken to Israeli hospitals to be reunited with their families. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “We are committed to returning all our hostages.”
Additional hostages released included four children, each accompanied by a female relative, as well as five elderly women, including Adar. Ten Thai nationals and one Filipino citizen being held in Gaza were also freed. Under the terms of the temporary Israel-Hamas ceasefire, 50 women and children hostages will be released over the four days, with the exchange of 150 Palestinian prisoners during the ceasefire.
Israel has expressed openness to extending the truce if more hostages are released at a rate of 10 per day.
