JERUSALEM, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli-Russian doctoral student kidnapped in Iraq in 2023 while conducting research has been released, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Tuesday.
In a statement, Netanyahu said that the release of Elizabeth Tsurkov was achieved "through months of teamwork," and that he had spoken with the student's family after the release.
"We will continue to fight with strength and determination until we bring all our hostages back home, both the living and the fallen," he added.
According to state-owned Kan TV, Israel did not release any prisoners or make concessions in exchange for the student's release.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement that Tsurkov had been freed and "is now safely in the American Embassy" in Baghdad.
Tsurkov, 38, a Princeton student, was abducted by Kata'ib Hezbollah, an Iraqi Shiite militia, in 2023, according to a statement released by Netanyahu's office back then. ■
