Israeli Arab citizen Amir Omer Hassan, 23, who was abducted by Sinai Bedouins last week, has been released and has returned home to Israel. Hassan was held in captivity for five days before being released along with a second hostage, a Norwegian national.

He explained just how frightening the ordeal was and how he was told if Egypt failed to comply to release prisoners, relatives of the kidnappers, he and the Norwegian woman would be killed.

Welcoming Hassan at Ben-Gurion International Airport was MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi as well as Hassan’s family and close friends.

The Israel Foreign Ministry released a statement thanking Egyptian authorities for its quick and prompt intervention in the case.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)