Back in the loving arms of her friends: moment when a five-year-old Israeli girl, kidnapped by Hamas and held hostage for weeks in Gaza, is harassed by adoring classmates on the first day of school after her release
This is the moment a five-year-old girl taken hostage by Hamas was reunited with her classmates on her first day of school.
Amelia Aloni, along with her mother Daniela, were held as hostages by Hamas for weeks after the terrorist group’s invasion of Israel on October 7.
She and Daniela were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, less than two miles from the Gaza border, and held underground for 49 days. They were only released last week as part of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The young girl returned to her school today and was seen on video smiling happily as staff came to welcome her.
One employee welcomed her with a hug before she ran into the arms of her friends.
Amelia Aloni (pictured) had a big grin on her face just before heading back to school for the first time in eight weeks
A staff member from her school welcomed the five-year-old back with a big hug
Amelia and her mother were released last week as part of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
Four other young girls ran out of the school building to hug her at the school entrance, before more of her classmates came to greet her.
Despite the warm greeting, the past two months have been harrowing for Amelia and her mother.
Daniela was forced by Hamas to write a propaganda letter to the outside world, which had her praising the terrorist group that kidnapped her and her daughter and took them to Gaza.
The letter reads: ‘I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your extraordinary humanity towards my daughter.
“You treated her like parents, inviting her into your room, making her feel like you’re not just friends, but real caring lovers.”
She praised the terrorists for their “extraordinary humanity” towards her daughter.
Danielle Aloni, who was taken hostage by Hamas along with her five-year-old daughter Emilia, was reportedly forced to write a propaganda letter to her family
“Children should not be in prison, but thanks to you and other kind people we met along the way… My daughter considered herself a queen in Gaza,” she reportedly added.
Her family later warned people not to believe the letter. One of her cousins wrote: “I know many out there will try to use this to defend Hamas. Don’t believe them!’
Daniela later said in an interview shortly after she was released: “Our girl saw things that children this age or any age should not see.
“It was a horror movie.”
More than a hundred hostages were released last week as part of a temporary ceasefire negotiated by Hamas and Israel.
The first group of thirteen hostages was released on November 24, after Hamas and Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire.
Israel has killed at least 15,000 civilians in Gaza so far, according to figures considered reliable by the UN.
Israel said Hamas refused to submit a list of 10 hostages before the deadline
The Israeli army is currently pushing deeper into the south of the Gaza Strip
The IDF called on Gazans to flee the enclave as they seek to eradicate Hamas rulers in the area
They also agreed to free women and children held behind enemy lines, with Hamas initially agreeing to release 50 hostages in exchange for Israel freeing 150 Palestinians from prison.
The deal was open-ended and allowed for more days of ceasefire in exchange for the release of more prisoners and hostages.
Hamas, desperate for a brief reprieve from the war that has so far killed at least 15,000 civilians in Gaza, according to figures considered reliable by the UN, took full advantage of the extensions and released a total of 105 hostages.
But the deal was not extended for more than a week, which Israel said was because Hamas refused to provide a list of 10 hostages before the deadline.
An unnamed Israeli official told the Times of Israel that they believe “Hamas is lying about the number of women they own.”
The exact number and identities of those still held by Hamas are currently unknown.
The Israeli army is currently pushing deeper into the south of the Gaza Strip after calling on Gazans to flee the enclave as it seeks to eradicate the area’s Hamas rulers.
The war has already killed more than 15,000 Palestinians and displaced more than three-quarters of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the death toll in the area has surpassed 15,890 since October 7, with more than 41,000 injured.
Israel says it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants
The war has already killed more than 15,000 Palestinians and displaced more than three-quarters of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, who are running out of safe places to go.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the death toll in the area has surpassed 15,890 since October 7, with more than 41,000 injured.
While the ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths, it said 70% of the dead were women and children.
Israel says it is targeting Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential areas.
The United States, Qatar and Egypt, which brokered the ceasefire last week, say they are working toward a longer ceasefire.
But hopes for a new temporary truce faded after Israel called its negotiators home this weekend.
Hamas said talks over the release of more of the dozens of hostages seized by militants on October 7 should be linked to a permanent ceasefire.