Families of recently released Israeli hostages are calling on the government to follow through with the ceasefire and hostage deal, stressing the urgent need to bring all captives home.
At a press conference in Rabin Medical Center, relatives of Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Eliya Cohen, and Tal Shoham shared distressing details of their loved ones’ captivity—months of isolation, lack of medical treatment, and psychological abuse.
Omer Shem Tov, kidnapped from the Nova music festival, was held in a tunnel for 450 days. His mother, Shelly, recalled how he longed for simple moments with his family and only felt relief when he met IDF troops upon release. She also honored murdered hostage Ori Danino, who risked his life to save others.
Omer Wenkert lost 30 kg in captivity and received no care for his chronic colitis. His mother vowed, “Our fight continues until the last hostage is home.”
Tal Shoham’s family expressed gratitude to world leaders for securing his release and urged swift action to reunite more families. Eliya Cohen’s partner, Ziv Aboud, emphasized, “There is no victory until everyone is home.”
The press conference also highlighted the suffering of Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who endured over 3,000 days in captivity. Al-Sayed’s father described his son as a “shell of a person,” kept in inhumane conditions.
As the first phase of the ceasefire deal nears its end, families insist that security and the hostages’ return go hand in hand. They urge swift negotiations to seize the opportunity before it’s lost.
