In an emotional and dramatic turn of events, Fawzia Amin Sido, a 21-year-old Yazidi woman kidnapped by ISIS at the age of 11, has been rescued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza and reunited with her family after more than a decade of captivity. The story of her harrowing experience and eventual liberation highlights the dark intersections of terrorism involving both ISIS and Hamas, as well as the enduring resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable suffering.
Fawzia’s nightmare began in 2014 when ISIS launched brutal attacks on Yazidi communities in Iraq, killing thousands and enslaving many women and children. The Yazidis, a religious minority, were targeted for genocide, with ISIS enslaving women to be sold and exploited. At just 11 years old, Fawzia was kidnapped and trafficked across multiple countries. During this time, she was sold to various men, each a member of violent extremist groups.
In a tragic twist, Fawzia was eventually trafficked to Gaza and sold to a Hamas-affiliated man. The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this man had been visiting Iraq at the time of her abduction and took Fawzia to Gaza, where she would be held for years.
According to journalist Yoseph Haddad, Fawzia was forced into marriage with this man, who prevented her from contacting her family throughout her captivity. She lived in a world of isolation, deprived of freedom, and cut off from the outside world.
On Thursday, the IDF announced that after years of searching, they had successfully rescued Fawzia during a military operation in Gaza. According to reports, her captor, the Hamas-affiliated man, was killed during an IDF airstrike. After his death, Fawzia fled to a hideout, where the IDF tracked her down.
The rescue operation, a coordinated effort involving the IDF, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, and other international actors, resulted in her safe transfer through the Kerem Shalom Crossing and return to her family in Iraq. The exact details of the operation remain largely classified due to its sensitivity, but the outcome was celebrated as a major victory in the ongoing fight against terrorism and the oppression of innocent civilians.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the IDF underscored the significance of the operation, emphasizing the connection between Hamas and ISIS. They declared, “This is further proof of the connection between Hamas and ISIS, as well as the crimes against humanity committed by the terrorist organization in Gaza. We will continue to act to dismantle the Hamas-ISIS terrorist network and free all hostages in Hamas captivity.”
The rescue mission marks a rare success in reuniting Yazidi survivors with their families, many of whom remain missing or have perished after years of abuse at the hands of ISIS and other terrorist organizations. Fawzia’s return is a beacon of hope for the Yazidi community, which has long called for more international efforts to rescue those still held in captivity.
The Yazidi genocide perpetrated by ISIS remains one of the most horrific events of the past decade. In August 2014, ISIS militants stormed the Yazidi homeland of Sinjar in northern Iraq, executing men and capturing women and children to be enslaved. Thousands were killed, and countless Yazidi women and girls were subjected to rape, forced marriage, and trafficking.
The United Nations has since recognized these actions as genocide, and global efforts have been made to prosecute ISIS militants responsible for these atrocities. However, many Yazidi survivors continue to live with the trauma of their captivity, and countless women remain missing.
For Fawzia, her years in captivity were marked by unimaginable cruelty. Sold from one captor to another, she was trapped in a world of violence and exploitation, with no means of escape or contact with her family. Her rescue not only brings her personal ordeal to an end but also shines a spotlight on the urgent need for international cooperation to address human trafficking and terrorism.
The rescue of Fawzia is part of a broader effort by the IDF to dismantle terrorist networks in Gaza and rescue hostages taken by Hamas and other extremist groups. The operation also points to the extensive underground ties between ISIS and Hamas, two of the world’s most notorious terrorist organizations. Both groups have a long history of inflicting suffering on civilians, using tactics like kidnapping, human trafficking, and exploitation to further their violent ideologies.
The success of this mission provides a glimmer of hope to the families of other hostages and missing persons, many of whom have been waiting for years for news of their loved ones. The IDF and its international partners have vowed to continue their efforts to rescue those still held in captivity and to combat terrorism in all its forms.
Fawzia Amin Sido’s journey from abduction to freedom stands as a symbol of both the horror of terrorism and the resilience of the human spirit. Her reunion with her family, after more than a decade of suffering, serves as a powerful reminder that the fight to free victims of terrorism is far from over. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges posed by extremist groups like ISIS and Hamas, stories like Fawzia’s underscore the importance of international cooperation and unwavering determination to protect innocent lives.
Watch her emotional reunion with her family:
🔴 After over a decade in captivity in Gaza , the @IDF, @cogatonline, @USEmbassyJLM, and others rescued 21-year-old Yazidi Fawzia Amin Sido from a Hamas-affiliated ISIS terrorist in a special operation.
Fawzia is now home with her family in Iraq💙.pic.twitter.com/DGwpR4s4YA
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 3, 2024
