In the first truce of November 2023, the wife, children, and other family members of Avera Mengitsu, a 37-year-old Israeli of Ethiopian origin who had been captured in September 2014 while crossing the border with Gaza, were released. However, Mengitsu remained in captivity, according to a statement from the Al Qasam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, as part of an agreement called "Al Aqsa Storm for the exchange of prisoners."
Regarding the other hostages involved in this situation, Eliya Cohen, captured at 26 during a music festival in October 2023, was suffering from a mental disorder and had health issues. On the other hand, Hisham al Sayed, a Bedouin from the Negev, was captured in 2015 after attending an event with his fiancée, being apprehended while trying to hide among the bodies.
Moreover, uncertainty surrounds the fate of Shiri Bibas, whose body was supposedly to be returned, but Israeli forensic authorities determined that the remains received did not correspond to Bibas's identity. This situation generates tensions within the framework of a broader agreement in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Additionally, the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas announced the release of six Israeli hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, marking an advance in negotiations. Although the release of these hostages represents progress, doubts remain regarding the transfer of the bodies of four deceased captives, which is scheduled for next week.
The release of these hostages, who have been held captive for 505 days, constitutes a step forward in the truce process, but there are still outstanding issues to be resolved, including the situation of Shiri Bibas's body and the return of the bodies of the deceased.
