Hamas announced Saturday that Hisham al-Sayed, an Israeli held captive in Gaza since 2015, would be released without a public ceremony, citing respect for his family.
Al-Sayed, a Bedouin Israeli, was captured after crossing into Gaza voluntarily nearly a decade ago. His family has long argued that his mental illness was a factor in his crossing.
Hamas has previously used staged releases for hostages as part of the ongoing cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal. However, the group said that in al-Sayed’s case, it would forego any public display. His handover to the Red Cross is expected later Saturday.