Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited with the family of Hisham al-Sayed, one of two Israeli men being held by the Hamas terror group in Gaza, his office says.
The Prime Minister’s Office says the visit is part of routine updates the prime minister provides families of captive Israelis, downplaying any hopes of a breakthrough despite recent reports of progress in talks to free al-Sayed, along with Avera Mengistu and the remains of soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, all held in Gaza since 2014.
Both al-Sayed and Mengistu entered Gaza of their own accord. They are thought to suffer emotional disturbances.
Manal al-Sayed holds up a picture of her son, Hisham, who is believed to be held captive in Gaza by the Hamas terrorist group, in 2016. (Yoav Lemmer/AFP)
The al-Sayeds were last visited by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2019.
Bennett holds the meeting alongside Yaron Bloom, who is coordinating efforts to free the Israelis held in Gaza, as well as his national security adviser Eyal Hulata and military secretary Avi Gil.
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