Six Israeli hostages are about to return from Gaza after being held in captivity for over 500 days. Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert, Avera Mengisto, and Hisham Al-Sayed. Avera and Hisham have been held in Gaza for nearly a decade. They both have health conditions, but they have been denied essential medical care. Their families have fought tirelessly for their release, yet the world remains silent. Tal Shoham, a 40-year-old father, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri while celebrating Simchat Torah with his family. That same day, his wife, two children and three other relatives were also taken hostages. They were released without him in November 2023. Eliya Cohen is 27 years old. He was at the Nova festival with his girlfriend Ziv when Hamas attacked. They tried to escape by car but were shot and forced to hide under a pile of dead bodies. Eliya was captured and thrown into a Hamas truck while his girlfriend barely survived. Eliya planned to propose to Ziv on a trip to Thailand a few months later. Instead, he has been held for over 16 months and tortured in Gaza. Omer Wenkert is 23. He was also kidnapped from the Nova festival. Hamas paraded him half-naked on a pickup truck, a haunting image that we will never forget. His mother has lived in terror, not only for his safety but for his health as well. Omer suffers from colitis, a serious digestive disease, and has no access to medication. Omer Shem Tov is 22 years old. He was at the Nova festival on October 7th when Hamas terrorists attacked. As gunfire erupted around him, he and a friend tried to escape in a car, desperately searching for safety. But they never made it. Hamas captured Omer and took him to Gaza. I met with Omer Shem Tov’s mother, his family and other hostage families, and every single one of them has lived a nightmare, fighting every single day to bring their loved ones back home. These were men, civilians, innocent sons, brothers, fathers, boyfriends, just living their lives until Hamas stole them away. Now, after more than 500 days in captivity, they're finally coming home. 63 hostages remain in Gaza and we will never stop to do anything and everything to bring them back. #BringThemAllHomeNow🎗️
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