Avera Mengistu, an Israeli citizen of Ethiopian descent, has spent nine years in Hamas captivity, yet his case has not achieved the same public attention as other Israeli hostages.

The Hostage: Mengistu was emotionally distressed when he crossed the Gaza border and was taken captive by Hamas at the age of 27.
* He is now 36 and his family haven’t seen or heard from him since he left his home in 2014, despite Hamas releasing a video purportedly of Mengistu still alive in 2023.

The Public Reaction: While around 240 hostages taken on October 7 have received a great deal of public attention, the visibility of Mengistu’s case has been significantly less pronounced.
* His family was initially told to remain quiet and refrain from talking about his capture.
* Posters bearing the names and faces of the October 7 hostages can be seen across Israel but not Mengistu’s.

The Government’s Role: The Israeli government confirmed Mengistu’s captivity by Hamas in July 2015, nearly a year after his disappearance.
* According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, they are committed to bringing back all hostages including Mengistu.
* Early attempts for his release did not factor in any possible hostage exchange negotiations.

Ethiopian Jews in Israel: Artists and activists argue that Mengistu’s lack of visibility underscores broader inequality issues faced by Ethiopian Jews and other non-white Israelis.
* Ethiopian Jews began arriving in Israel in the late 1970s and now number more than 140,000, but often face discrimination and socioeconomic inequality.

The Family’s Struggle: Yallo Mengistu, Avera’s brother, portrays the constant pain of his brother’s absence and the frustration arising from the relative lack of attention his brother’s case has received.
* The Mengistu family appreciates the support from regular citizens who have been more helpful than the government in their view.
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