Hisham Al-Sayed returns home after nearly a decade in Gaza

36-year-old Bedouin Israeli Hisham al-Sayed from the village of Hura crossed into Gaza near the Erez crossing in April 2015, driven by mental health challenges that his family says included schizophrenia and personality disorders.

Al-Sayed was freed earlier today alongside five other hostages, but his handover in Gaza City stood apart from the others. While fellow returnees were presented at public ceremonies in Rafah and Nuseirat, Al-Sayed was quietly transferred to Red Cross officials before being escorted back to Israeli territory.

His decade-long captivity painted a stark contrast to those taken during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack. The last public glimpse of Al-Sayed came through Hamas footage released in June 2022, showing him frail and connected to an oxygen tank - images that sparked international concern about his condition.

Throughout his prolonged detention, his mother Manal Al-Sayed emerged as a persistent voice for his freedom, joining forces with other families of long-held captives. In 2018, she appeared at press conferences alongside the brother of Avera Mengistu, another long-term hostage freed today who had been held since 2014.

Israeli military officials confirmed Al-Sayed crossed back into Israel by 3:16 PM local time, arriving first at an IDF facility near Re'im for initial health assessments. He was then transferred to Tel Aviv's Sourasky Medical Center, where medical teams are providing comprehensive care, including psychological support.

His release comes as part of a Qatar and Egypt-mediated ceasefire agreement that began on January 19, focusing on freeing civilian captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and humanitarian concessions. The deal has particular significance for Al-Sayed and Mengistu, as their cases had remained unresolved for nearly a decade despite numerous attempted negotiations.

Of the 251 people taken hostage during the October 7 attack, officials say 58 remain in Gaza - with 34 believed dead. Four more bodies are expected to be returned next week as negotiations continue for a potential second phase of exchanges.

The private nature of Al-Sayed's return home marks both the end of one of Gaza's longest-held captives and raises questions about his health after such prolonged detention. As medical teams work to assess and treat him, his case stands as a reminder of the complex human toll of the ongoing conflict.