Three Israelis were freed on Saturday after 491 days in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of hostages redeemed in the ongoing first phase of the ceasefire agreement to 21. Or Levy and Eli Sharabi are Jews of Portuguese origin.
There are at least five more hostages of Portuguese origin who are still being held captive by Hamas.
Omer Shem Tov is a Jew of Portuguese Sephardic origin. His grandparents belonged to traditional Sephardic families in Morocco, called Shem Tov, Hassan and Ashkenazi. Members of this family returned to Portugal in the 19th century and are buried in the British cemetery of Estrela. Omer's father - Malki Shem Tov - has Portuguese nationality, while his son is expecting.
Segev Halfon is a Jew of Portuguese Sephardic origin. His grandparents belonged to traditional Sephardic families from Morocco and Tunisia, and there are even records of marriages in the Portuguese Jewish community of Tunis.
Tsachi Idan Eini is a Jew of Portuguese Sephardic origin. His grandparents belonged to traditional Sephardic families from Egypt and Turkey, with family records in the Kahal Kadosh Portugal of Izmir.
Ran Guili Nada is tragically dead, according to the IDF. He also had Portuguese origins. His maternal grandparents, surnamed Nada and Ziuni, belonged to traditional Sephardic families in Egypt.
Ariel Cunio is a Jew of Portuguese Sephardic origin. His family on his father's side originates from Turkey.
The Jewish and Israeli world eagerly awaits the release of these hostages who, on the happiest day of the Jewish calendar, Simcha Torah, knew the most dangerous hell.
