Avra, mentally ill, crossed the perimeter fence into the Gaza Strip, in the Zikim Beach area, on September 7, 2014, and has been held by Hamas ever since. In January 2023, for the first time in years, the Hamas organization published a video in which they showed Abra speaking Hebrew in captivity. At first, security officials did not confirm the authenticity of the video, but later his mother said she recognized him. A day after the publication of the video, Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that the video is authentic. Abra grew up in Ashkelon alongside 11 brothers and sisters. They have been working for over 9 years to return him to Israel.