Despite growing uncertainty and stress surrounding the hostage deal, especially in light of the grotesque violation regarding fallen hostage Shiri Bibas z”l, six hostages returned to Israel today (Saturday) under the deal: Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert, who were abducted into Gaza on October 7, as well as Hisham al-Sayad and Avera Mengistu, who had been held captive long before the war.
The returning hostages were safely transferred to IDF forces. Upon arrival, they were taken to a hospital for medical evaluations and further assessment.
Live Updates
- 17:17 Hisham al-Sayed, accompanied by his family, is airlifted by an IAF helicopter to the hospital, where he will reunite with relatives and receive medical treatment.
- 16:47 Omer Wenkert, accompanied by family members, is airlifted by an IAF helicopter to the hospital, where he will meet his family and receive medical care.
- 15:10 Eliya Cohen and Omer Shem Tov, along with their families, are flown by IAF helicopter to the hospital for medical treatment.
- 13:33 The returning civilians, escorted by IDF and ISA (Shin Bet) forces, cross into Israeli territory and head toward the initial reception point in the Gaza envelope region, where they will reunite with their families.
- 13:08 Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert are now being escorted by an elite IDF unit and Shin Bet forces on their way back to Israel, where they will undergo initial medical assessments and reunite with their families.
- 12:53 Tal Shoham, accompanied by family members, is airlifted by an IAF helicopter to the hospital, where he will reunite with his relatives and receive medical care.
- 12:24 Avera Mengistu, escorted by his family, is currently being flown by an IAF helicopter to the hospital, where he will reunite with his relatives and receive medical treatment.
- 10:24 Two returning civilians, escorted by IDF and ISA (Shin Bet) forces, have crossed into Israeli territory and are now en route to the initial reception point in the Gaza envelope region, where they will meet their families.
- 10:05 Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham are now being escorted by an elite IDF unit and ISA (Shin Bet) forces on their way back to Israel for initial medical evaluation. Meanwhile, the IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later today.
Eliya Cohen, 27, from Tzur Hadassah
Eliya was kidnapped during the Nova music festival in Re’im along with his partner, Ziv Avud. Under rocket fire, the two fled to a bomb shelter, later dubbed “the shelter of death.” During the attack, Eliya was kidnapped to Gaza while Ziv managed to escape.
Since his abduction, his family has received reports of harsh captivity conditions, including injuries and abuse. Eliya is an electronic music enthusiast, and worked in party production and real estate. Ziv later discovered Eliya had planned to propose to her, and she has since been fighting for his release.
Omer Wenkert, 23, from Gedera
Omer arrived at the Nova festival about an hour before Hamas’s attack. In the last message sent to his family, he wrote: “I’m terrified.”
Omer, the eldest sibling, was diagnosed at 14 with colitis, a condition requiring special medical care and diet. He managed a chef’s restaurant and is known for his friendly and sociable nature. His family shared that they prepared his room and medical necessities for his return.
Omer Shem Tov, 21, from Herzliya
Omer was kidnapped from the Nova festival along with his two friends, siblings Maya and Itay Regev, who were released in a previous deal after the three were held together in captivity.
Omer suffers from respiratory issues and celiac disease, which requires a gluten-free diet. As the youngest in his family, he is known for his kindness and love of music. His family expressed concern for his health during captivity, especially due to his special dietary needs.
Tal Shoham, 39, from Ma’aleh Tzvia
Tal was kidnapped along with his family while visiting his wife Adi’s parents in Kibbutz Be’eri.
During the massacre, the house they were in was set on fire. Tal was kidnapped separately from his wife and their two children, Naveh and Yahel. Adi and the children were released in a previous deal, but Tal remained in captivity. His family expressed deep concern due to the lack of information about his condition, especially after the rest of the family was freed.
“Held in Captivity for Over 10 Years”
On September 7th in 2014, two weeks after the end of Operation Protective Edge, Avera Mengistu crossed the security fence near Zikim beach and entered Gaza. Hisham al-Sayed, who suffers from mental health issues, has been held by Hamas in Gaza since 2015 after crossing the border into the Strip.
The hostage families’ headquarters welcomed the upcoming release of the six hostages but emphasized: “The news of the expected release of our loved ones is an important moment, but the struggle is not over. A comprehensive and immediate agreement must be reached to return all the hostages – the living for rehabilitation and the fallen for proper burial.”
Officials Warn: Fighting Will Resume if Necessary
A senior government official stated that if negotiations fail and Hamas continues to violate the agreement, Israel will resume combat operations with greater force: “If Israel is forced to return to battle due to Hamas’ intransigence, it will do so with full intensity and lethality, backed by the Trump administration and replenished with ammunition stockpiles and refreshed forces.”
Additionally, limited humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza in the past week, but Israeli officials clarify: “This will not impact the implementation of the ‘Alternative Gaza’ plan,” which focuses on voluntary migration and dismantling Hamas’ rule.
