A young Yazidi woman kidnapped by Islamic State militants in Iraq more than a decade ago was freed from Gaza this week.
Reunion With Family In Iraq
The 21 year old woman identified as Fawzia Sido, has been reunited with family in northern Iraq.
This Yazadi woman was kidnapped from her home in Iraq when she was only 11 years old and sold and trafficked to Gaza.
A Complex Operation
She was rescued following a complex operation coordinated between Israel, the United States, and other international actors
The woman was rescued in a secret mission from the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing.
Upon her entry into Israel, she continued to Jordan through the Allenby Bridge Crossing and from there- returned to her family in Iraq.
The rescue also involved Jordan and Iraq, according to officials.
Fawzia’s Condition
Fawzia is a member of the ancient Yazidi religious minority mostly found in Iraq and Syria.
Silwan Sinjaree, chief of staff of Iraq’s foreign minister said that Fawzia’s physical condition is good.
Sinjareee further said that Fawzia is traumatized by her time in captivity and by the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Challenges In Rescue
She was freed after four months of efforts that involved several failed attempts.
This was because of the difficult security situation resulting from Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, Silwan Sinjaree, chief of staff of Iraq’s foreign minister said.
Reuters could not reach the woman directly for comment.
How Fawzia Was Rescued?
Iraqi officials had been in contact with this Yazidi woman for months and passed on her information to U.S. officials.
The U.S. officials arranged for her exit from Gaza with the help of Israel, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The Israeli military said it had coordinated with the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and “other international actors” in the operation to free Sido.
It said in a statement her captor had been killed during the Gaza war, presumably by an Israeli strike.
How Fawzia Escaped?
Fawzia then fled to a hideout inside the Gaza Strip.
After entering Israel, she continued on to Jordan through the Allenby Bridge Crossing.
From there, she returned to her family in Iraq, the military said.
State Department Statement
A State Department spokesperson said the United States on Tuesday “helped to safely evacuate from Gaza a young Yezidi woman to be reunited with her family in Iraq”.
The spokesperson said she was kidnapped from her home in Iraq aged 11 and sold and trafficked to Gaza.
Her captor was recently killed, allowing her to escape and seek repatriation, the spokesperson said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had directly followed up on the issue with U.S. officials on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York last month.
Yazidis Captured In Iraq In 2014
More than 6,000 Yazidis were captured by Islamic State militants from Sinjar region in Iraq in 2014.
Many of then were sold into sexual slavery or trained as child soldiers and taken across borders, including to Turkey and Syria.
Iraqi authorities said that over the years, more than 3,500 have been rescued or freed but some 2,600 were still missing.
Many are feared dead but Yazidi activists say they believe hundreds are still alive.
This is further evidence of the connection between the terrorist organization Hamas and ISIS, and additional proof of the crimes against humanity committed by the murderous terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.
IDF Determined To Free All Hostages
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it will continue to act to dismantle the Hamas-ISIS terrorist organization.
The IDF stated that it will continue to strike terror infrastructure sites and free all hostages in Hamas captivity.
