Israeli hostage describes torture and coded messages that led to her rescue from Iraq

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An Israeli woman held captive in Iraq for two and a half years has revealed the torture and sexual abuse she endured. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton doctoral student, was abducted in Baghdad in March 2023 by Kata'ib Hezbollah. She reported being beaten, sexually assaulted, and subjected to electric shocks during her captivity. Tsurkov used coded messages in a televised confession to signal her mistreatment, referencing Hebrew words for electricity and torture. She was eventually released in September 2025, with reports suggesting US involvement in her rescue.


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Israeli hostage describes torture and coded messages that led to her rescue from Iraq | News Minimalist