‘Israeli’ captive returns to military service after release from Gaza

An ‘Israeli’ captive who was released by Hamas after being held in Gaza has returned to service in the ‘Israeli’ military.

Maxim Herkin, who was released as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, attended a ceremony organized by his military unit, where he said: “Thank you so much…Thanks to you, I came home to my civilian family a few days ago, and today, thanks to you, I came home to my family in uniform.”

“I grew up in the Transport Center during my regular service and continued here in the reserves.  This unit has always meant so much to me—it’s my military life. We all have civilian lives and lives in uniform, and I have to thank you,” said Herkin, who holds the rank of a captain in the Technological and Logistics Directorate’s Transportation Center in the ‘Israeli’ military.

He was a dual ‘Israeli’-Russian citizen. In February, Hamas said it would “take into consideration” Russia’s request to release, but he remained in Gaza, until his release on October 13th.