Six more hostages freed, hundreds still held: the fight to bring them home

On Saturday 22nd, six Israeli hostages - Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu - were released from Hamas captivity in Gaza after enduring months of unimaginable suffering. Their return marks a moment of relief for their families and for Israel, but it is overshadowed by the cruel manipulation of emotions by Hamas, which just two days earlier released the bodies of two other hostages, Shiri Bibas and her sons, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, in a calculated act of psychological warfare.

On February 22nd, 6 hostages got released from Gaza after captivity: Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu.

Who are the six released hostages?

• Eliya Cohen (27) was kidnapped from the Supernova music festival on October 7th, where Hamas massacred hundreds of festival-goers.

• Omer Shem Tov (21), also taken from the festival, was among the young party-goers who sought shelter before being captured.

• Tal Shoham (39), an Israeli citizen and a father, was abducted from his home in Kfar Aza, a kibbutz brutally attacked that day.

• Omer Wenkert (23), another young festival attendee, suffered months of separation from his loved ones.

• Hisham al-Sayed (38), a Bedouin Israeli with a history of mental health struggles, wandered across the border into Gaza in 2015. Despite being a civilian with no political affiliations, Hamas took him captive and used him as a bargaining tool, refusing to release any details about his condition for years.

• Avera Mengistu (38), an Ethiopian Israeli with mental health issues, similarly crossed into Gaza in 2014. He was seized by Hamas and held with no news on his state, with the terrorist organization refusing to acknowledge his captivity for long periods. Hamas exploited him for political leverage.

Life in captivity

The hostages endured horrific conditions - starvation, isolation, and physical and psychological abuse. Survivors of previous hostage releases described being locked in dark, windowless rooms, threatened with execution, and subjected to propaganda tactics. Hamas used them as pawns, manipulating negotiations while denying them the most basic human rights. Medical care was non-existent, and reports indicate that many suffered severe weight loss and untreated illnesses.

Who was released in exchange?

In return for the six hostages, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners, many of them convicted terrorists with blood on their hands. Among them were:

• Abdallah Nasser Abu Jomaa, arrested for attempting a stabbing attack on Israeli civilians.

• Omar Shalabi, responsible for incitement to terrorism and direct connections to militant groups planning attacks.

• Mahmoud Idris, convicted of assisting in violent terrorist attacks against Israelis, which resulted in multiple injuries.

• Mohammed Abu Asab, involved in orchestrating violent riots and attacks that led to the deaths of Israeli citizens.

• Ahmed Abu Kharuba, convicted for aiding in an attempted bombing that, if successful, would have killed numerous people.

Many of these prisoners have vowed to return to terrorism, following the disturbing pattern of previous releases, where freed terrorists often rejoin militant groups and continue plotting attacks. The release of such dangerous individuals underscores the devastating moral and security cost of bringing Israeli hostages home.

The tragic manipulation: Shiri Bibas and her sons, Kfir and Ariel

Two days before this latest hostage release, Hamas handed over the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Kfir (10 months) and Ariel (4 years old), who were kidnapped on October 7 along with their father, Yarden Bibas. Hamas had previously claimed the children and their mother were alive, deliberately toying with the emotions of their grieving family and the Israeli public. The cruel manipulation shattered hopes and demonstrated, yet again, Hamas’ complete disregard for human life.

The psychological warfare Hamas inflicted on the Bibas family and the entire nation is a grotesque display of its inhumanity. The world must recognize that this is not just a military conflict but a battle between civilization and barbarism.

As Israel welcomes home six more of its people, the country remains united in its demand: Bring them all back, now.