Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reveals that an IDF reservist was detained for eight months in Thailand and released after diplomatic efforts.
In a video message, Netanyahu says that the reservist, identified only as Aleph, the first Hebrew letter of his name, was detained on his honeymoon and held for eight months before being released.
“This is the commitment of the State of Israel,” Netanyahu tells the couple in a phone call, of efforts to return home Israelis held around the world. “We all embrace you.”
The statement from the Prime Minister’s Office did not elaborate on why the reservist was detained in Thailand and the incident was not previously reported in Israeli media.
The Ynet news site reports that the reservist was stopped after a loaded magazine with bullets was found in his luggage.
Netanyahu thanks Gal Hirsch, the government’s hostage pointman, as well as President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and other security officials for their work in freeing the reservist.
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Friday, July 17, 2026
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