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Avera Avraham Mengistu

Undated photo of Ashgara Mengistu. (Israel Police)
January 21, 2026, 1:30 pm
Brother of former Hamas hostage found alive after going missing for three days
Ashgara Mengistu, 33, who disappeared after leaving his mother’s home in Ma’ale Adumim on Sunday, reportedly located on train in Kiryat Gat
By ToI Staff
Undated photo of Ashgara Mengistu. (Israel Police)
January 20, 2026, 10:40 pm
Brother of released Hamas captive Avera Mengistu goes missing
Police ask public for assistance in search for Ashgara Mengistu, 33, who disappeared after leaving his mother’s home in Ma’ale Adumim on Sunday
By ToI Staff
Hamas terrorists seen training to attack Israel in a mock kibbutz built in Gaza. (Screencapture/YouTube: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
December 20, 2025, 10:50 am
IDF ignored October 6 intel warning of Hamas attack the next morning – report
Drone operation over the Strip flagged Hamas behavior one day before October 7 attack, but military’s Southern Command reportedly dismissed it as a routine exercise by terror group
By ToI Staff
Ethiopian Jews attend a ceremony for the Sigd holiday on the Armon Hanatziv Promenade overlooking Jerusalem's Old City on November 20, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 21, 2025, 4:34 am
‘This brings our community together:’ Ethiopian Jews flock to Jerusalem for Sigd holiday
Thousands attended ceremony at promenade overlooking the Old City, including former Hamas hostage Avera Mengistu
By Rossella Tercatin
Freed Israeli hostage Matan Angrest holds a photo of Hadar Goldin during a rally calling for the return of the deceased hostages who are held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (AP/Mahmoud Illean)
November 9, 2025, 5:10 pm
After decade of deadlock, return of Hadar Goldin’s body may bring closure to captive nation
Fallen soldier was held by Hamas since 2014, but Israel failed for years to recover his body and others, possibly planting seeds of conflict that would precipitate his eventual return
By Nava Freiberg
Avera Mengistu (center) is embraced by family members at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv after being released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, February 22, 2025. (Maayan Toaf/GPO)
July 22, 2025, 10:06 pm
Avera Mengistu discharged from hospital 5 months after release from Hamas captivity
Former hostage, who was held in Gaza for more than a decade, will be moved to sheltered accommodation, his sister says, thanking hospital for its ‘humane and sensitive’ care
By ToI Staff
Freed hostage Eliya Cohen (left) reunites with family members at the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, February 22, 2025. (Haim Zach/GPO); National Security Itamar Ben Gvir arrives for a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. January 17, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
February 25, 2025, 10:54 am
Released hostage says Ben Gvir’s comments worsened conditions in captivity
Successful rescue mission of four captives in June led Hamas captors to tie abductees together in chains to obstruct future operations, says ex-hostage Eliya Cohen
By ToI Staff
The six hostages released on February 22, 2025 reunite with their families. Top row from left: Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, Avera Mengistu. Bottom row from left: Hisham al-Sayed, Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham. (IDF)
February 22, 2025, 11:34 pm
Hostages were chained, starved, kept in pitch black; some return almost unresponsive
Hamas made 2 hostages not going free watch release ceremony from a vehicle near the stage; Omer Shem Tov, abducted from Nova festival, was held alone in a tunnel for some 450 days
By Emanuel Fabian, Lazar Berman, Michael Bachner, Charlie Summers, Leon Kraiem and ToI Staff
Relatives are reunited with Avera Mengistu at a military facility near Re'im on February 22, 2025. (IDF)
February 22, 2025, 5:24 pm
A decade of ‘unimaginable suffering:’ Relief as Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed freed
Families say both men are barely communicating after being held in Hamas captivity for over 10 years after entering Gaza; Hisham was ‘destroyed, emotionally and cognitively’
By ToI Staff
Israeli hostages released February 22, 2025 (left to right): Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu seen on stage in Rafah (Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Jehad Alshrafi/AP Photo); Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert on stage in Nuseirat (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Photo); Hisham al-Sayed in Gaza (X screenshot)
February 22, 2025, 4:53 pm
Hamas frees final 6 living hostages in phase 1 of deal; all reunite with family in Israel
October 7 captives Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Eliya Cohen back after over 500 days in Hamas captivity; Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed return after decade in Gaza
By ToI Staff and Emanuel Fabian
Top row, from left: Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, Eliya Cohen. Bottom row, from left: Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed, Omer Wenkert (Courtesy)
February 18, 2025, 11:43 pm
These are the six living hostages released Saturday
Roster includes two men who wandered into Gaza a decade ago, a father kidnapped while visiting his in-laws on Kibbutz Be’eri, and three young men abducted from the Nova rave
By ToI Staff
Protesters gather on Tel Aviv's Begin Street near the IDF headquarters to call for a deal to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, September 8, 2024. (Pro-Democracy Movement/Danor Aharon)
September 9, 2024, 12:33 am
Negotiators said to believe chance of hostage deal ‘close to zero’; US also pessimistic
Families reportedly told deal unlikely to happen as Netanyahu, Sinwar both hardened stances; US to delay presenting new proposal, does not want to reward Hamas after executions
By ToI Staff
From left to right: Avera Mengistu's mother Agarnesh Mengistu, his sister Tsige Engidaw, Lt. Hadar Goldin's mother Leah Goldin, First Sergeant Oron Shaul's brother Ofek Shaul, Hisham Al-Sayed's father Shaaban Al-Sayed and mother Manal Al-Sayed pose in front of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, on July 5, 2023. - (GABRIEL MONNET / AFP)
July 6, 2023, 8:22 am
Families of Israelis held in Gaza visit Geneva, seeking help from UN, Red Cross
Relatives meet with UN human rights chief Volker Turk, and vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross Gilles Carbonnier
By AFP and ToI Staff
An undated video published by Hamas on January 16, 2023, purportedly of Israeli captive Avera Mengistu. (Screenshot)
January 18, 2023, 9:35 am
Mom of Gaza captive Mengistu: ‘His voice is different, I want to look into his eyes’
After terror group airs undated footage apparently showing Israeli held in Strip since 2014, Agurnesh Mengistu says son looks the same; Foreign Ministry urges pope, UN to act
By ToI Staff
An undated video published by Hamas on January 16, 2023, purportedly of Israeli captive Avera Mengistu. (Screenshot)
January 17, 2023, 7:48 pm
Netanyahu says Gaza captive Mengistu ‘is alive,’ Hamas responsible for his fate
A day after terror group airs undated footage apparently showing Israeli held in Strip since 2014, PM appears to confirm its authenticity
By Emanuel Fabian
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