85-year-old Israeli Holocaust survivor taken hostage by Hamas reunited with her family

Nov 25, 2023 ·

An 85-year-old Holocaust survivor was released by Hamas after spending two weeks in captivity. His release comes as part of a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, which also included the release of four Israeli civilians held by Hamas. The elderly man, whose name has not been revealed, was abducted on November 12th by a group of men wearing Hamas armbands while he was visiting his daughter's grave in Gaza.

The abduction sparked outrage from human rights groups and the Israeli government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incident and called it an "abhorrent act". After two weeks of negotiations, the prisoner exchange deal was reached and the 85-year-old man was released. In exchange, the Israeli government agreed to release four Israeli civilians who were detained by Hamas for various alleged offences, including entering Gaza illegally.

The elderly man, who is reportedly in good health despite being held in captivity for two weeks, thanked the Israeli government for securing his release. He also expressed his gratitude to the Palestinian people who showed him kindness during his captivity. The man's daughter also thanked those who helped secure her father's release, saying that she was “very relieved and happy” that her father was now free.

This recent prisoner exchange deal comes as Hamas and Israel continue to engage in talks aimed at ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While certain issues remain unresolved, the exchange of prisoners is seen as a positive step towards improving relations between the two sides. It also serves to highlight the importance of showing mercy even during times of political and military tensions.