RELEASED: Raaya Rotem freed Nov. 29, reunited with daughter Hila, freed Nov. 25
Mother and daughter from Kibbutz Be’eri released separately by Hamas, in a breach of terms of temporary ceasefire
Raaya Rotem was released on November 29 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel. Her daughter, Hila, was freed on November 25. This is the story of their capture:
Mother and daughter Raaya and Hila Rotem were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, as the terror group waged a massacre on communities in southern Israel, killing residents, committing atrocities and kidnapping dozens.
The mother and daughter, 54 and 13, were hiding in the safe room of their home that morning.
Raaya wrote to her brother at 12:05 p.m., telling him that she and Hila were being abducted and taken to Gaza.
That was the last communication anyone had with Raaya.
The two weren’t confirmed as Hamas hostages until October 29, when their family was informed that they were officially being held in Gaza.
Hila was freed on November 25, without her mother, in violation of the temporary ceasefire agreement, and has reported that the pair were separated 48 hours prior to her release. Their captors claimed not to know Raaya’s whereabouts, but she was freed on November 29, 2023.
