Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Freed hostage Tal Shoham (center) and his family meet in southern Israel after his release, February 22, 2025. (IDF)
An image released by the IDF shows freed hostage Tal Shoham reuniting with his family earlier at an IDF facility near the Gaza border, after 505 days in Hamas captivity.
His wife, Adi Shoham, his daughter, Yahel, 3, and son, Naveh, 8, as well as his mother-in-law Shoshan Haran, his wife’s aunt Sharon Avigdori and her daughter Noam, 12, were also taken hostage, but released in November 25, 2023.
Another picture shows Shoham being airlifted to a hospital in central Israel, while his son holds up a whiteboard reading: “Freedom! It’s crazy.”
Freed hostage Tal Shoham and his son Naveh on a helicopter en route to a hospital after his release, February 22, 2025 (IDF)
Meanwhile, released hostage Omer Wenkert and his parents are being airlifted by an Israeli Air Force helicopter from an army base near the Gaza border to a hospital in central Israel, the military says.
Wenkert will receive medical care and meet the rest of his family there.
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 22, 2025
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