Six Israeli hostages freed

As Tel Aviv delays the release of 600 Palestinian detainees

- BEL TREW ALEXANDER BUTLER

Six Israeli hostages, including two men held captive in Gaza for around 10 years, have been released by Hamas after days of tensions threatened to scupper a fragile ceasefire with Israel.

The release of more than 600 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons has been delayed. Among the captives are at least five journalists and the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner, local media and family members reported.

Yesterday morning, Avera Mengistu, who had been held by militants since he crossed into the besieged strip in 2014, was released first alongside Tal Shoham, 40, who also has Austrian citizenship and was seized from Kibbutz Be’eri during Hamas’s bloody assault on 7 October 2023. Both were handed over to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

The family of Mr Mengistu, who was born in Ethiopia and immigrated to Israel at the age of five, said their relative had endured over a decade of “unimaginable suffering”. Mr Mengistu crossed into Gaza through Zikim in September 2014. His family said for nine years they had no indication of his condition until the first sign of life arrived in January 2023 when Hamas released a video of him.

“During this time, there have been continuous efforts to secure his return, with prayers and pleas, some silent, that remained unanswered until today,” they added.