“To be abducted in Athens on an Air France plane makes sense,” Gonen said. “But to be abducted at home, in the State of Israel, it was too much.”

The recognition was awarded by the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, whose chairman is Chemi Peres, son of former prime minister Shimon Peres.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu memorializes his brother, Yoni Netanyahu, who was killed in a 1976 mission rescuing Israelis held hostage after a hijacked flight.