Israeli Man Imprisoned in Iraq for Over a Decade Returns Home

Benjamin Ben Limor, an Israeli citizen who spent over a decade imprisoned in Iraq, is set to return to Israel in the coming days. His release follows a legal agreement reached in Iraq at the end of 2025, which led to the cancellation of a death sentence imposed on him in 2020.

The complex situation began in 2014 when Ben Limor traveled to Iraqi Kurdistan to visit his grandparents during the height of ISIS's influence in the region. He reportedly joined local defense efforts against the terrorists. In 2015, he was allegedly ambushed by a taxi driver who recognized him as a Hebrew speaker and threatened to hand him over to ISIS. A struggle ensued, resulting in the taxi driver's death from his injuries. This incident led to Ben Limor's arrest, intense interrogations, and a death sentence by hanging in a Kurdish court.

Upon his return to Israel, Ben Limor is expected to join the foundational program at the Eshet Chayil yeshiva in Jerusalem. He will undergo a rehabilitation process focused on initial acclimatization, acquiring clothing and religious items, and addressing his basic needs after his long incarceration. This initiative was arranged by activists and individuals who supported his case throughout his ordeal.