After Over 10 Years, Avera Mengistu is freed from Hamas captivity and reunited with family

Mengistu’s abduction occurred when he entered Gaza, and for years, his family had no news of his condition until a video surfaced in early 2023, reportedly showing him alive. This video offered a glimmer of hope, but it wasn’t until Saturday that the long period of uncertainty and pain came to an end. Mengistu, now 38, was released alongside four other hostages who were taken on October 7, 2023, during the deadly Hamas attacks.

In a statement released through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Mengistu’s family expressed the emotional toll of the decade-long ordeal. "We have endured ten years and five months of unimaginable suffering," the family said. "During this time, there have been continuous efforts to secure his return, with prayers and pleas, some silent, that remained unanswered until today." The family’s relief was evident, but they requested privacy and peace as they prepared to welcome Avera home. "As our beloved son, brother, and uncle Avera returns, we ask that these moments be respected and that we be granted the peace and rest we so desperately need," the statement concluded.

The family eagerly awaited Avera’s return, with his brother Ilan and sister preparing to greet him in Israel. However, Mengistu’s observant parents were unable to attend the crossing due to the timing of Shabbat. Gil Elias, a relative of Mengistu, shared with Channel 12 that the family’s emotions were a mix of joy and disbelief. "It’s hard to process that they’re going to see him after 10 years," Elias said. "It’s really a miracle… somehow the stars have aligned and he’s coming home."

At a gathering in Ashkelon, friends and supporters of Mengistu gathered to celebrate his release. Singer Sim Mekonen, a long-time advocate for Mengistu’s return, performed a song she had promised to sing on the day of his release. "I prepared a happy song," Mekonen said to Channel 13, fulfilling a promise she made to Ilan Mengistu years ago.

Mengistu’s family, originally from Ashkelon’s working-class Ethiopian-Israeli community, expressed deep concern for his mental health after such a prolonged period of captivity. The Health Ministry confirmed that Avera Mengistu had arrived at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, where he would receive comprehensive medical care, including psychological support, to address the toll of his decade-long ordeal.

The long journey for Mengistu and his family is finally over, but their story serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of those who endure the unimaginable, and the unwavering hope that, against all odds, they can one day come home.