February 22, 2025 - Day 505 - 6 hostages come home

6 Israeli hostages released today in more sick displays of hatred and antisemitism. The first two, Tal Shoham and Avera Mengisto were released in Rafah. The next three, Eliya Cohen, Omer ShemTov, and Omer Wenkert were released in Nuseirat. Hisham al-Sayed was released without a public ceremony.

Tal Shoham (38, now 39), was kidnapped along with 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. His six extended family members were released on November 25, 2023 in a temporary ceasefire deal. His now 4-year-old daughter Yahel, expressed her longing for her father in the simple words of a child: "We see many daddies, just not our daddy." She drew a picture of her father with outstretched arms and a smile, explaining, "He's doing this with his arms but no one comes to him."

Avera Mengisto (now 38) is an Ethiopian-born Israeli man who crossed into Gaza on September 7, 2014. He was interrogated by Hamas, and has been missing since then. His family has stated that he is mentally unstable. He had been treated with medication, which he stopped taking a few weeks prior to his crossing. His family was originally from Ashkelon, he crossed into northern Gaza after having a fight with his mother, according to Human Rights Watch. Hamas had claimed that he is a soldier, a claim disputed by both Human Rights Watch and his family.

Eliya Cohen (27), had been with his fiancée, Ziv Aboud , at the Nova party in Re'im. After the rocket fire started, they found a bunker, which turned into a death trap. Together with Eliya and Ziv, was Ziv's nephew, Amit Ben Avida, and his fiancée, Karin Schwartzman, who was killed. Amit and Karin were murdered, and Eliya was abducted to Gaza along with Hersh Goldberg-Polin z"l (murdered in captivity) and Or Levy (released on February 8). His fiancée Ziv survived the death bunker and has been working tirelessly for Eliya's release.  

Omer ShemTov (20) was at the Nova Festival with friends on October 7, 2023. He was kidnapped in his own car alongside Maya and Itay Regev (who were released in November 2023) and driven into Gaza. His parents followed watch his "live location" cross the border into Gaza. He has subsequently spent two birthdays in captivity, returning as a 22 year old. 

Omer Wenkert (22) went to dance with his good friend Kim Damati, who was killed, at the Nova festival in Re'im. His family has been deeply concerned for his well-being, partly because of his colitis. He had been in contact with his parents that morning, telling them he was “scared to death.” Their last communication with him was at 7.50AM. Later, they received a Hamas video showing Omer, bound on the back of a white pickup truck and stripped down to his underwear, confirming that he had been taken hostage in Gaza.

Hisham al-Sayed (now 37) is a Bedouin Arab Israeli civilian who suffers from schizophrenia and wandered into the Gaza strip during a schizophrenic episode before being subsequently abducted by Hamas. He has been held hostage since 2015 (marking 10 years of captivity). Hamas claimed Al-Sayed is an Israeli soldier to try to excuse his illegal detention and torture, but Human Rights Watch has confirmed he is a civilian exempted from military service due to his mental illness.