Netanyahu speaks with dad of Hisham al-Sayed, laments it took 10 years to return him

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Sha’ban al-Sayed, father of Hisham al-Sayed, hours after the latter was released from Hamas captivity.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the prime minister laments the amount of time it took to bring Hisham home, but notes he had promised to work tirelessly to bring him home, and did so.

“I promised you that we would return him and we turned the world upside down,” says Netanyahu. “Now we will do what is necessary to receive him well and take care of him.”

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the elder Sayed thanks Netanyahu for his efforts and wishes him strength as he works to bring all the hostages back.

Sha’ban al-Sayed has told Kan radio that his son returned “destroyed, emotionally and cognitively,” adding: “His mental condition is in a bad state, he doesn’t communicate, and he looks like he was in a torture camp for 10 years. We didn’t think that Hamas would be so cruel.”