6 Hostages Released From Captivity in Gaza

The six remaining living hostages who were to be free in Phase 1 of the hostage release and ceasefire deal with Hamas returned to Israel on Saturday.

The bodies of four hostages murdered by Hamas in captivity are set to return to Israel next Thursday in the final transfer set for Phase 1.

“The citizens of Israel embrace the six returnees who are now back in Israel,” the Israeli government said in a brief announcement Saturday afternoon.

Those who were freed included:
Omer Wenkert, Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham el-Sayyid.

The latter two returnees were held by the terrorists in Gaza for more than a decade, along with the bodies of two fallen IDF soldiers, of which one was recovered from Gaza by Israeli forces last month, just a few hours before the deal went into effect.

Both Avera Mengistu and Hisham el-Sayyid suffered mental health issues prior to entering Gaza and both were excused from mandatory military service due to their conditions.

Omer Shem Tov has celiac disease, a chronic autoimmune disorder caused by a genetic intolerance to gluten and which further complicated his health during captivity. Despite those challenges, however, Shem Tov appeared to be in good spirits upon his return to Israel, smiling and embracing his family.

Tal Shoham is a dual Israeli-Austrian citizen; a resident of the northern town of Maale Tzviya, he was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, during a visit to his wife’s family in Kibbutz Be’eri. His wife and their two children as well as his mother-in-law, his wife’s aunt and daughter were also taken hostage but were freed in the November 2023 deal with Hamas. Shoham’s father-in-law was murdered by the terrorists during the attack, as were his wife’s aunt and uncle who lived next door.

Eliya Cohen was shot by the terrorists during the invasion; a bullet wound in his leg was not properly treated during his captivity.

All of the returnees were taken to hospitals in Israel for medical evaluation and to begin the rehabilitation process.

Three of the hostages released on Shabbos and their relatives attended a moving Havdalah ceremony on Motzei Shabbos.
Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, and Omer Wenkert were evacuated to Beilinson Hospital after their release, where they reunited with their extended families.

Eliya Cohen’s grandfather, Aharon Rabi, recited Havdalah.