JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An Israeli soldier captured by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack was freed in the Gaza Strip on Monday during a ground military operation, the Israeli military said, adding that the former captive, named Ori Megidish, “is doing well.”
No details were given on the circumstances of this release.
More than 200 people kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 during its attacks in southern Israel are detained in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli authorities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli army’s ground operations were creating opportunities to free hostages.
“Hamas will not do it unless it is under pressure,” he said at a press conference. “We obviously welcome with open arms the return of a hostage after yesterday’s successful operation… but we are committed to bringing all the hostages home.”
“This method has a chance” of succeeding, he added.
(Report by Ari Rabinovitch, French version by Augustin Turpin and Jean Terzian)
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