After 505 days, Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, and Eliya Cohen, who were abducted on October 7, alongside Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who have been held for over a decade, were freed from Hamas captivity and are now back home in Israel, reunited with their families.
"An unforgettable moment, filled with a whirlwind of emotions"
Tal Shoham's family expressed their overwhelming emotions: "The Shoham, Korengold, and Haran families are overjoyed to welcome Tal back home. This is an unforgettable moment, filled with a whirlwind of emotions. Tal is with us."
They also thanked the Israeli public for their support: "We are grateful to the people of Israel, who stood by us through all the long days of pain and anguish. At this time, we ask for privacy for Tal, Adi, and the children."
The Shoham family emphasized, "At this pivotal moment in our lives, our sole request is to seize this window of opportunity and secure a deal that will bring all the fathers back to their children, children who desperately need their fathers, and to return all the hostages, both the living for rehabilitation and the fallen for eternal rest. This opportunity must not be missed."
Tal was reunited with his children, Neve and Yahal, who had been released in the 2023 hostage deal. He is now on his way with his family to Beilinson Hospital, where he will receive necessary medical care.
"Ten years and five months of unimaginable suffering"
Avera Mengistu was freed after spending more than a decade in captivity. He had crossed the border into Gaza on his own on September 7, 2014.
His family shared their deep pain: "Ten years and five months of unimaginable suffering have passed for our family. Throughout this time, relentless efforts were made to bring him home, prayers and cries, some silent, that went unanswered until today."
"Our Omeriko is home after 505 days of suffering and nightmare"
Omer Shem Tov was abducted at the age of 22 from the Nova music festival in Re'im. Now, after 505 days in Hamas captivity, he has reunited with his family.
In an emotional statement, Omer's family expressed their relief and joy, while reaffirming their commitment to continuing the struggle for the remaining hostages. "Our child, who became Israel's child since October 7, is finally home despite his medical hardships," they wrote, adding that "the stories of horror will only unfold with time."
The family thanked the people of Israel for their support, as well as the security forces and those involved in the negotiations. They emphasized their dedication to the fight for the return of all hostages: "We will continue to struggle alongside all the families until every hostage is brought home, whether for rehabilitation or a dignified burial." Concluding their statement, they said, "These are days of mourning and hope; our lives are intertwined until everyone returns."
Omer Wenkert's mother: 'He looks like himself'
Omer Wenkert, 22, was kidnapped from the Nova festival along with his girlfriend Kim, who was murdered. The last message he sent to his parents read, "I'm terrified" - now he is back in Israel with his family.
Wenkert, who suffers from colitis, was released on humanitarian grounds. His mother, Niva, had kept his shattered phone, which was found in a shelter. His grandmother, Tsili, a Holocaust survivor, remarked, "This is my real Holocaust."
Following his release, his mother reacted with deep emotion: "He looks like himself. Now he is in Israel. He went to shower with the new cologne we bought him."
"At Last, Eliya can be surrounded by his loved ones"
In a heartfelt letter, the Cohen family shared their emotions as Eliya returned home after 505 days in captivity. They described the harrowing moments of his abduction and their hopes for the future. "Eliya was kidnapped while wounded and bleeding from a shelter at the Nova festival, where he left behind his girlfriend, who survived, and his nephew, who was murdered," they recounted.
Despite their immense joy, the family acknowledged they still do not fully know his physical and psychological condition after enduring months of abuse and starvation in captivity. They extended special thanks to IDF soldiers, the Hostage Families Forum, their family liaison officer, Amit, and the people of Israel for their unwavering support.
"At last, Eliya can be surrounded by his loved ones and begin a new journey," they wrote, asking the media and the public to respect his privacy as he embarks on his recovery process.
