Gadi Moshe Mozes, 80, was released by militants in southern Gaza on Thursday, along with Arbel Yehud and five Thai nationals. He is the first man to be released under the current ceasefire agreement.
Mozes was 79 when he was kidnapped from kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel. His partner Efrat was killed along with several other members of his family, including his partner’s daughter. His two young granddaughters were kidnapped and later released.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Mozes frequently lectured on agriculture at the kibbutz. A founding member of the kibbutz’s vineyard, he also helped to maintain the community vegetable garden.
His family has described him as a devoted family man and a loving grandfather, known for his sociable nature and his belief in the good of humans and the importance of coexistence.
The Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, released a video in December 2023 showing Mozes and another hostage, Gadi Katzir, speaking in front of the camera, asking the Israeli government to arrange their release.
