Briton's mum among latest hostages freed

THE British-Israeli son of an elderly woman hostage has told of his joy after Hamas released her last night.

- Mark Reynolds

Noam Sagi, 53, had not heard from Ada, 75, since she called to say she was hiding in a safe room as gunmen stormed her kibbutz on October 7.

Her son confirmed she was one of 12 freed after a pause in the fighting in Gaza was extended by two days.

He said: "For our family, this is a moment we have dreamt of and worked for every minute of every day since October 7. It will be hard to believe it is true until we are able to embrace in person.

"Seeing my mum will be a moment of unparalleled relief and joy for us personally but comes against a backdrop of unparalleled grief and sorrow for our community."

Noam, a London-based psychotherapist, added: "For many families, including friends and neighbours, the tragedy is ongoing as long as their family members remain hostage, and the traumas they have suffered will leave scars that might never heal.