Hamas has claimed Al-Sayed is an Israeli soldier but Human Rights Watch has confirmed he is a civilian exempted from military service.
He entered the West Bank on at least 15 occasions, and was detained by Palestinian Preventative Security at least 3 of those times.
"[3] On 20 April 2015, al-Sayed wandered into the Gaza Strip and was promptly abducted by Hamas.
[5] On 28 June 2022, Hamas released a video showing a sickly Al-Sayed in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask and an IV drip.
[6][7] Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemned Hamas: "Spreading the clip of a sick man is despicable and an act of desperation.