Six freed hostages reunite with families, head to hospital for treatment
Nir Oz confirmed Shiri Bibas's remains following forensic testing • Palestinian prisoners to be released later today
WATCH: Ex-hostage Omer Wenkert reunites with family
WATCH: Omer Shem Tov reunites with family at initial meeting point in Israel
Ex-hostage Hisham Al-Sayed crosses into Israeli territory
Former hostage Hisham Al-Sayed crossed into Israeli territory accompanied by IDF and Shit Bet forces, the IDF announced Saturday afternoon.
He will make his way to an initial reception point in southern Israel where he will reunite with members of his family.
Cohen, Shem Tov head to Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus with families in helicopter
Eliya Cohen and Omer Shem Tov have taken off in an Israeli air force helicopter with their families to Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus, where they will receive medical treatment, the IDF announced Saturday afternoon.
Family of ex-hostage Tal Shoham watches helicopter land from Beilinson Hospital
Families of Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen watch them get released
Eliya Cohen will return from Hamas captivity to discover girlfriend is alive
Both sought refuge in the famous “death bunker," where 16 were killed by terrorists, four were taken hostage, and seven were rescued by Israeli forces.
Eliya Cohen, who was released from Hamas captivity after 505 days on Saturday, will be returning home to discover that his girlfriend, Ziv Abud, survived the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The two had sought refuge in a shelter now known as the “death bunker.” Of those who hid there, 16 were killed by terrorists, four were taken hostage, and seven were rescued by Israeli forces.
Cohen was released alongside Omer Wenkert and Omer Shem Tov from Hamas in Nuseirat after a brief propaganda ceremony. The three were then transferred to a reception point in southern Israel where they reunited with their families.
Go to the full article >>Watch: Avera Mengistu reunites with family after over 10 years of captivity
📸 The moment Avera Mengistu reunited with his family following his return from captivity in Gazapic.twitter.com/7TVPUHoLx6
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) February 22, 2025
Go to the full article >>
Who is captive Omer Shem Tov, one of the hostages taken from the Nova festival to be released?
Omer Shem Tov was abducted from the Nova Music Festival when terrorists drove his car into Gaza.
Omer Shem Tov was abducted from the Supernova Music Festival. Terrorists drove his car into Gaza.
Omer Shem Tov was 20 years old when Hamas abducted him from the festival, driving him and his friends into Gaza on October 7, 2023. His family was able to track his live location through his phone whilst he called them, updating them on everything that was happening around him.
Omer recently marked his second birthday in captivity on October 31, turning 22. In an Instagram post dedicated to his birthday, Omer’s mother, Shelly Shem Tov, called on others around the world to do an act of kindness and to bring light to the world.
Go to the full article >>Who is Omer Wenkert, the hostage with an autoimmune disease set to be released?
Omer suffers from an autoimmune disease and his family said on his website they fear his terrorist captors are not providing him the medication he needs.
Omer Wenkert was 22 when Hamas abducted him from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023. Now 23, the young volunteer is expected to be released under the ceasefire-hostage deal.
Omer suffers from an autoimmune disease, and his family said on his website they fear his terrorist captors are not providing him with the medication he needs. His condition, colitis, causes ulcers to appear in the digestive tract, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In the moments leading up to his capture, Omer texted his parents that he was “scared to death.” While many families were left unknowing for days whether their loved ones were abducted or murdered, his family were informed hours after his abduction after Hamas posted a video of the young Omer strapped to a pickup truck in his underwear. Images later circulated showing Omer lying on the ground in Gaza.
Go to the full article >>Israel at war: What you need to know
- Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
- Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities.
- 69 hostages remain in Gaza.
- 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says.
- The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30.
- The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4:00 a.m.
- Netanyahu confirmed the first phase of the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire on January 17, 2025
- 735 terrorists will be released as part of the hostage deal