6 Frail Hostages Freed on Shabbos
Six hostages were finally reunited with their families on Shabbos. Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen were freed in what is believed to be the final stage of the current hostage deal. Their release sparked emotional reunions at an IDF medical facility near Gaza, where they were embraced by their loved ones after being medically assessed. Though frail and visibly weakened, they are home—safe at last • Read More
In a cruel display of psychological warfare, Hamas released six Israeli hostages on Shabbos, manipulating the handover into a grotesque propaganda spectacle. The freed captives—Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen—emerged visibly frail, bearing the scars of prolonged captivity and mistreatment.
The body of Shiri Bibas, Hy”d, has also been returned to Israel and identified at the Institute of Forensic Medicine. Her body was brought back to Israel on Friday night after being handed over to the Red Cross by the Hamas terror organization. Israeli officials estimate that she was murdered along with her children, Hy”d, in the first weeks of the war.
Propaganda at the Expense of Human Suffering
Instead of a quiet, dignified release, Hamas forced five of the hostages through staged, choreographed “ceremonies,” using their suffering as a tool to parade before cameras. The hostages were paraded in front of jeering Hamas supporters before being handed over to the Red Cross. Only Hisham al-Sayed was spared from this grotesque display, likely due to international scrutiny.
Mengistu and al-Sayed, both mentally ill Israeli civilians who wandered into Gaza voluntarily in 2014 and 2015, had been held as bargaining chips for nearly a decade—a blatant violation of international law. Their release, long overdue, exposes Hamas’ utter disregard for human decency.
The Physical Toll of Captivity
The freed hostages showed significant weight loss and physical deterioration, a testament to the conditions they endured. Their first moments of freedom were marked by emotional reunions at an IDF medical facility near Gaza, where they were given immediate medical care.
Meanwhile, four more hostages—believed to be deceased—are set to be returned on Thursday. Hamas’ refusal to acknowledge their fates earlier only compounds the agony of their families, who have been left in unbearable suspense.
A Final Stage in the Deal?
This latest release is expected to mark the final phase of the current hostage deal, but the fate of many other captives remains uncertain. Hamas continues to use innocent civilians as human pawns while the world watches in horror.
Joyous Havdalah ceremony in the hospital with the freed hostages
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