Freed Israeli hostage Rimon Kirsht, who was hailed for giving Hamas terrorists an “iconic” death stare, tried to give her captors an ultimatum when they came to release her — telling them they needed to let go of her husband too or she’d stay in Gaza.
“When they told her she was being released, she didn’t want to go. She told them, ‘Either we leave together, or I stay here, and no one gets released,’” a family member of Kirsht told Israel Hayom Wednesday, one day after the 36-year-old was released on the fifth day of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Kirsht had been held in the Gaza Strip for 53 days with her husband, Yagev Buchshtab, the relative explained.
“She was with Yagev throughout the entire captivity. It was easier for them,” they said.
Their Hamas captors, however, refused to allow the couple to walk free side-by-side.
“Hamas terrorists told her, ‘You have two options: Either get released willingly or we’ll drag you on the floor.’ They didn’t leave her a choice,” the loved one lamented.
Kirsht was subsequently released alongside 11 other hostages – including Merav Tal, who she was spotted putting her arm around moments after cocking her head and giving one of the Hamas terrorists a steely stare.
As of Thursday morning, Buchshtab, 34, remains in Hamas custody.
“He wanted to tell us that he loves us,” the couple’s relative told Israel Hayom of the message Kirsht brought back from her husband.
“She looks much skinnier than she was before she was captured,” they added of Kirsht’s condition.
“We are very happy and excited that our daughter-in-law is back. That she is finally home. We believe that Yagev will also return soon. Everyone will return home,” they concluded.
Kirsht and Buchstab were abducted from Kibbutz Mirim during Hamas’ deadly surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.
She was later featured in a video filmed by Hamas that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly denounced as “cruel psychological propaganda” on the part of the terror group.