Egypt Daily News – For the first time in history, an Israeli detainee kissed the head of Al-Qassam Brigades fighters from the handover platform during his release in the seventh and final batch of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
Those gathered at the handover site urged the Israeli detainee to kiss the heads of Al-Qassam and Palestinian faction fighters once again in an unprecedented event.
Released After 10 Years… Who Is the Israeli Prisoner Avera Mengistu?
Avera Mengistu is an Israeli citizen of Ethiopian descent who was held in Gaza for nearly a decade. He crossed into the Gaza Strip in 2014 under unclear circumstances and was subsequently detained by Hamas.
Mengistu, who reportedly suffers from mental health issues, was one of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas as part of ongoing negotiations between Israel and Palestinian factions. His case was often highlighted in prisoner exchange discussions, with his family and Israeli officials demanding his release over the years.
After ten years in captivity, Mengistu was finally released as part of a negotiated agreement. His release marks a significant development in ongoing efforts related to detainees and ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
The Gaza Strip witnessed today a new prisoner exchange deal with Israel, in which Palestinian factions will hand over six Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. This exchange is part of the seventh batch of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
