Hamas on Friday confirmed that it will release six Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed receipt of the list of names and said that the relevant families had been notified.
“We request to refrain from disseminating rumors and unofficial information,” added the PMO.
Hamas on Tuesday identified the hostages to be freed as:
• Eliya Cohen, 27, is a resident of Tzur Hadassah near Jerusalem and has three younger sisters. Known for his zest for life, love of travel, and fondness for people, he worked in marketing and real estate after a career as an event producer. On Oct. 7, 2023, He attended the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im in southern Israel with his fiancée, Ziv Abud, her nephew Amit and Amit’s girlfriend, Karin. During the attack, while fleeing to a bomb shelter, Amit and Karin were murdered. Ziv survived by hiding under their bodies, while Eliya was taken captive.
• Tal Shoham, 40, is a resident of Ma’ale Tzviya in the Galilee who previously lived in Kibbutz Be’eri, where he managed a team at the printing house. Known for his dedication to peace, family and community, he volunteed with Magen David Adom, trained dogs and developed economic forecasting software. On Oct. 7, he was kidnapped alongside his wife, Adi, their children Nave, 8, and Yahel, 3, his mother-in-law, Dr. Shoshan Haran, Adi’s aunt Sharon Avigdori and her daughter Noam, 12. Three other family members were murdered. The women and children were released during the November 2023 ceasefire after 50 days in captivity.
• Omer Shem Tov, 22, is a resident of Herzliya who dreams of becoming an actor. Known for his talent in mimicry and humor, he is also passionate about music and has his own DJ equipment. Friends and family describe him as funny, popular and always working to make others happy. On Oct. 7, he was kidnapped from the Supernova festival along with siblings Itay and Maya Regev, who have since been released.
• Omer Wenkert, 23, is a resident of Gedera and manages a well-known chef’s restaurant. He is known for his charismatic personality, love of dancing and passion for sports. Friends describe him as joyful with a contagious energy, and he was about to begin a restaurant management course. On Oct. 7, Omer attended the music festival, where he was taken captive.
• Hisham al-Sayed, 36, is a Bedouin from Hura, near Beersheva. In April 2015, he independently crossed the border into Gaza and was kidnapped by Hamas. In June 2022, Hamas released a video showing him lying in bed wearing an oxygen mask, conscious and alert. He is the son of Shaaban and Manal and has one brother.
• Avera Mengistu, 39, from Ashkelon, was born in Ethiopia and immigrated to Israel at the age of 5. He enjoys traveling, going to the beach and sharing family meals, particularly traditional Ethiopian cuisine. He shares an extremely close bond with his parents. In September 2014, Avera crossed the border into Gaza through Zikim. For nine years, his family had no indication of his condition until Hamas released a video of him in January 2023.