Hisham al-Sayed

Hisham al-Sayed (; ; born February 15, 1988) is a Muslim Bedouin Arab Israeli civilian who was held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for nearly ten years. Hamas has claimed al-Sayed is an Israeli soldier but Human Rights Watch has confirmed he is a civilian exempted from military service after attempting to serve for a brief period.

Hisham, who has schizophrenia, was released on 22 February 2025 as part of the 2025 Gaza war ceasefire.

Biography Hisham al-Sayed was born in 1988 in al-Sayyid to Manal al-Sayed and Sha’ban al-Sayed. loss of hearing, tinnitus, and vertigo.

On 28 June 2022, Hamas released a video showing a sickly Al-Sayed in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask and an IV drip. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemned Hamas: "Spreading the clip of a sick man is despicable and an act of desperation."

Release In January 2025 after the leaking of a document showing information about the 2025 Gaza war ceasefire it was reported that Al-Sayed was set to be released by Hamas as part of the exchange. His family issued a statement shortly after the announcement expressing their happiness at his return and hope for all hostages to be released.

Al-Sayed was released on 22 February 2025, along with five other hostages held by Hamas. Unlike the other five hostages, al-Sayed was released without a public ceremony. The IDF confirmed receiving him a few hours later.