Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel - February 24, 2025 Avera Mengistu, an Ethiopian-born Israeli, walked free on Saturday, February 22, after enduring more than 10 years as a captive of Hamas. His release marks a poignant moment in the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, offering a glimmer of hope to families torn apart by conflict. Heart-wrenching footage released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) captured Mengistu’s emotional reunion with his family at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. The scenes of tearful embraces underscored the end of a long and agonizing ordeal that began in 2014, when Mengistu crossed into Gaza from Israel. Human Rights Watch has noted that Mengistu, who has a documented history of mental health struggles, may have been driven to make the impulsive and unauthorized border crossing due to his condition. Mengistu’s liberation came alongside that of Tal Shoham, the first of six hostages slated for release on Saturday under the fragile truce. His return to Israeli soil after a decade in captivity has reignited debates about the plight of those still held and the human cost of the protracted conflict. For now, Mengistu’s family celebrates a miracle, their loved one finally home.