Hamas Releases Teen Hostage With Pet Dog in 'Incredible' Moment

Hamas released the fifth group of Israeli hostages on Tuesday, including a 17-year-old girl and her dog.

The Israeli government approved a truce agreement—brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt—last week to secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas, which seized around 240 hostages in its attack on Israel October 7. Under the deal, at least 50 hostages, all women and children held captive for 46 days, are expected to be exchanged for about 150 Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli detention centers. The agreement also held a temporary four-day ceasefire in Gaza, which has recently been extended by an additional two days.

Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian attack on Israel in history last month. Israel in response subsequently launched its heaviest airstrikes against Gaza. As of Tuesday, at least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, the Associated Press reported, citing the Israeli government, and more than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

On Tuesday, 17-year old Mia Leimberg, who was abducted along with her mother, Gabriela, and family dog, Bella, during the initial attack, was released by Hamas as part of the fifth group of Israeli hostages.

Following the release of Leimberg, photos of Leimberg holding her dog as she was being released made their way onto social media. User Paul Shapiro shared his thoughts on X, formerly Twitter, saying: "Incredible to see images of hostage Mia Leimberg (17) being released with her dog Bella 52 days after they were kidnapped together. What a bond the two must share."

Gabriela Leimberg, director of a center that serves children with autism and other special needs, was also released as part of the Tuesday exchange.

The mother and daughter were visiting family on Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak not far from the Gaza border when they were taken into custody by Hamas alongside three of their relatives, according to The Times of Israel.

The family had attempted to hide in a sealed room of their relatives' home, using a chair to keep the door shut before they were discovered by the Hamas militants, the newspaper reported.

The hostage release comes just a day after Israel and Hamas agreed to extend a ceasefire by an additional two days as part of a deal that will include the group's release of more hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, a senior White House official confirmed.

The ceasefire will be extended through Thursday morning in Israel, and will include the release of an additional 20 hostages by Hamas, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

Several other groups of hostages have been released since the landmark deal was announced. On Friday, a group of 13 Israeli hostages, 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino citizen were released. On Saturday, Hamas released another group of hostages.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Newsweek on Saturday night that 17 hostages, 13 who were Israeli and four who were Thai, had been transferred to Israel where they would be taken to hospitals for observation and reunited with their loved ones.

On Sunday, Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old girl, was one of two American hostages released.

The IDF told Newsweek on Sunday that 14 Israeli and three foreign-national hostages had been transferred to the Red Cross, according to information it has received from the humanitarian organization.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari called Edan a "hero" in a Sunday press briefing after her release, adding that the girl "is a living example that the war against Hamas is uniquely justified," he said.

"This is a war against an evil and cruel enemy, and like Abigail, each and every one of the returned hostages has family or close ones who were murdered or are still being held hostage," Hagari said.