Avera Mengistu

Avera Mengistu was born in 1986 in Gondar

Mengistu was born in 1986 near Gondar, Ethiopia, to a Jewish family. He was the fourth of 10 children of Ayelin and Agernesh Mengistu. At age 5 he came to Israel with his family in Operation Solomon and grew up in Ashkelon.

He attended elementary school in Ashdod and finished his studies at the Ben Yakir religious youth village. After high school he worked in low paid jobs, including recycling. His family lived in poverty.

In 2011 his older brother died, and his mental health declined. He was hospitalized in psychiatric care, including an involuntary stay in January 2013. In March 2013 a medical committee exempted him from IDF service.

On September 7, 2014, he climbed the border fence near Zikim and crossed into the Gaza Strip. Hamas held him there. In January 2023 Hamas released a video showing him in captivity.

He was released on February 22, 2025, as part of a deal between Hamas and Israel during a Gaza war ceasefire. He left the hospital in July 2025.