From the Liveblog of
Sunday, September 8, 2024
Rally in Tel Aviv marks 10 years since Israeli Avera Mengistu was taken captive by Hamas in Gaza
A Hostages Families Forum in Tel Aviv pays tribute to Avera Mengistu, who was taken captive by Hamas 10 years ago, when he crossed into Gaza.
“Ten years have now passed since Avera Mengistu was taken captive by Hamas. That’s 10 years, 3,650 days, and 3,650 nights. His family has not stopped appealing to the government, world leaders, and humanitarian organizations to do everything possible to secure his release from his cruel captors,” the Hostages Forum says in a statement.
כיכר החטופים.
10 שנים ויום שאברה שבוי בידי החמאס.#עד_מתי_אברה_מנגיסטו ????? pic.twitter.com/vEYB88FQPj— Amit Gal – עמית גל – أميت غال???? (@GalAmit) September 8, 2024
Mengistu’s parents and brother take part in the event at the so-called Hostages Square, along with Tzur Goldin, the sister of Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held by Hamas in Gaza since 2014, and Sha’ban al-Sayed, whose son Hisham al-Sayed is also held by the terror group.
Both al-Sayed and Mengistu have a history of mental illness. The two Israeli citizens crossed the Gaza boundary voluntarily between 2014 and 2015 and have since been held prisoner by Hamas.
