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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 559

Hisham al-Sayed

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
Sha’ban al-Sayed speaks at a press conference at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center - Ichilov, on February 23, 2025 following his son Hisham al-Sayed's release from Hamas captivity. (Yehoshua Yosef/Flash90)
February 24, 2025, 6:17 am
Father of ex-hostage Hisham al-Sayed demands outrage from Arab world over son’s condition
Father of Israeli Bedouin Muslim family accuses Hamas of violating the teachings of Islam by exploiting his son, who ‘has mental problems,’ calls for intensifying efforts to free all hostages
By AFP and 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
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
File: Families of Abera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed hold a press conference calling for the release of the two Israeli citizens from Hamas captivity, on September 6, 2018. (Hadas Parush/FLASH90)
January 3, 2023, 6:09 pm
Comptroller slams undefined role of Israeli negotiator for release of Gaza captives
Matanyahu Englman says PMO never detailed post’s responsibilities, has only ‘minimal’ information about work done; captive’s relative says meeting had been ‘void of content’
By Emanuel Fabian
The families of Israeli captives and slain IDF soldiers held in Gaza meet with Pope Francis in the Vatican, December 21, 2022. (Israel's Embassy in the Vatican)
December 21, 2022, 3:20 pm
Hosting families of Israelis held by Hamas, pope pledges to work to bring them home
In Vatican meeting with relatives of captives and slain soldiers whose bodies remain in Gaza, pontiff says he will liaise with governments and Muslim religious leaders
By Lazar Berman
Leah Goldin (C), mother of late Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin whose body has been held by Hamas since the 2014 Gaza conflict, is prevented along with others from proceeding by Israeli police forces in the southern Israeli kibbutz of Karmia on August 5, 2022. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)
August 5, 2022, 7:52 pm
Prevented from reaching Gaza border, Goldin family, supporters scuffle with cops
Hundreds joined bereaved family in protest over inaction in returning bodies of soldiers, civilians held by Hamas; Hadar Goldin’s mother: Former PMs were too scared to act
By ToI Staff
A Palestinian woman walks past a destroyed building in the al-Rimal commercial district in Gaza City on May 22, 2021, following a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian terror groups. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP)
July 31, 2022, 7:55 pm
Hamas claims Israel bombed facility holding captive remains of IDF soldier last year
Gaza terror group says strike occurred during May 2021 war, killing one of its guards; Israeli official calls it a lie meant to drum up interest
By Emanuel Fabian
Bereaved parents of Hadar Goldin and other family members and supporters gather outside the state memorial ceremony for Operation Protective Edge at Mount Herzl on July 23, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
July 24, 2022, 10:15 pm
Marking 8 years son’s body held by Hamas, Goldins to march from Kfar Saba to Gaza
Family calls on public to join them in rally, says current government following path of previous ones in doing nothing to return Hadar, Oron Shaul, Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed
By ToI Staff
Screen capture from vide of Sha'aban al-Sayed, father of Hisham al-Sayed, held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, on June 28, 2022. (Screen capture/Ynet)
June 29, 2022, 9:20 am
Father of Hamas captive says prepared to wait for release of all Israelis in Gaza
Day after terror group releases video, Sha’aban al-Sayed says he’s unconvinced by its claim his son’s health has deteriorated, stresses ‘We want all the captives to return home’
By ToI Staff
Footage of a man who Hamas claims is Israeli captive Hisham al-Sayed published on June 28, 2022. (Screen capture/Twitter)
June 28, 2022, 7:01 pm
Hamas releases footage showing Israeli captive hooked up to oxygen
Video from terror group is first sight of Hisham al-Sayed, a Bedouin Israeli, since he was taken captive in 2015; Hamas reportedly offers exchange deal for sick Palestinian inmates
By Aaron Boxerman
The empty assembly hall of the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 27, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
June 28, 2022, 2:25 pm
Daily Briefing June 28: Abortion reforms pass; Knesset takes next step to elections
Carrie Keller-Lynn recaps another tumultuous day in the Knesset, Aaron Boxerman updates us on Hamas hostages, Amanda Borschel-Dan discusses a seafaring mosaic’s journey home
By ToI Staff
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