Bedouin hostage arrives back in Israel after private release

Hamas freed Israeli Bedouin Hisham al-Sayed on Saturday after nearly 10 years of captivity in Gaza, marking his release in a private manner to "honor and respect" Palestinians living inside Israel.

Sayed, 37, was among six captives released in the seventh phase of a hostage-prisoner swap under a fragile truce. Unlike previous releases, which often featured public ceremonies where hostages are paraded and handed over to Red Cross officials, Sayed's return was conducted privately.

A Hamas official explained this was to show respect for Palestinian communities inside Israel.

"The occupation abandoned the prisoner Hisham al-Sayed for 10 years because he is a Palestinian from the territories occupied since 1948," the official stated, despite Israel and Sayed’s family denying he had served in the Israeli army.

Sayed, who suffers from schizophrenia, had been missing since he entered Gaza in 2015. His photo was broadcast on Hamas television in 2016, and a video in 2022 showed him bedridden and connected to a ventilator.

His family, who had fought for his release, celebrated the moment, calling it a long-awaited victory. "After nearly a decade, the long-awaited moment has arrived," they said in a statement.

In addition to Sayed’s release, five other Israeli hostages were freed in public ceremonies, with Israel set to release over 600 Palestinians in exchange.

However, the release of Palestinian prisoners has been delayed, awaiting a decision from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.