DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — On Saturday, militants from Hamas released three Israeli civilian hostages in a move that aligns with a fragile ceasefire agreement. In exchange, Israel was set to release a significant number of Palestinian prisoners, a development aimed at pausing the ongoing conflict in the region for the time being.
The hostages, identified as Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy, were seen looking thin and weak as they were escorted from a white van onto a stage in Deir al-Balah. Their appearances suggested poorer health than earlier released hostages in this truce phase. All three men were captured during the initial Hamas assault on Israel, which took place on October 7, 2023, marking the beginning of the current conflict.
In front of an audience of hundreds, armed Hamas fighters handed each of the three men a microphone, requiring them to make a brief statement before they were transferred to Red Cross representatives. This marked a notable first, as no hostages had been made to speak publicly during their release in previous instances of this ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to relocate the Palestinian community from Gaza, while welcomed by Israel, has faced broad rejection from Palestinians and the international community. It appears that this situation has not disrupted the ongoing truce, which is set to last until early March. However, it raises concerns regarding future negotiations. Hamas may hesitate to release additional hostages if they suspect that U.S. and Israeli intentions lean towards forcibly relocating Palestinians, which many human rights advocates argue would breach international law.
Masked Hamas fighters, equipped with firearms and driving white pickup trucks, were seen gathering at the site of the hostage exchange hours before the release. This incident marked the fifth exchange of hostages and prisoners since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19, 2024. Prior to Saturday, 18 hostages had already been freed, alongside over 550 Palestinian prisoners.
The Hostages Families Forum, a collective representing the relatives of many hostages, expressed distress at the imagery surrounding the release, emphasizing that time is of the essence for those still in captivity.
According to the terms of the initial ceasefire, the agreement entails the release of 33 hostages alongside nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. It also involves returning Palestinians to areas in northern Gaza and increasing humanitarian aid for the beleaguered region. For the first time since May, wounded Palestinians have recently been permitted to cross from Gaza to Egypt for medical treatment.
Among the three individuals released on Saturday, Sharabi and Ben Ami were taken hostage from Kibbutz Beeri, one of the farming communities that suffered heavy losses during the outbreak of violence. Levy was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, where he sought refuge in a secure area during the raid. Tragically, Sharabi lost his wife and teenage daughters in the initial assault, while his brother Yossi was also captured and is presumed to have died while in custody. Levy’s wife was killed too; his young son has been looked after by relatives for the past 16 months. Ben Ami, a father of three, had been abducted alongside his wife, Raz, who was previously released during a brief ceasefire in November 2023.
As video footage captured the moment of their release, family members of the hostages reacted with tears of joy, applause, and shouts of relief. Michael Levy, Or’s brother, shared that his nephew was aware of his father’s imminent return, stating, “Mogi, we found daddy,” which elicited pure happiness in the child, something that had been absent for a long time.
As a part of the exchanges on Saturday, Israel planned to release 183 Palestinian prisoners, including 18 individuals who were serving life sentences for severe offenses. The groups released ranged in age from 20 to 61 years old. While the Israeli government considers these individuals to be terrorists, Palestinians view them as warriors fighting against the Israeli occupation. Most Palestinians are connected to someone who has been imprisoned.
During a week-long ceasefire in November 2023, over 100 hostages were released. Currently, more than 70 individuals still remain in Gaza, with Israeli authorities indicating that 34 of them are believed to have either died during the initial assault or have died in captivity. Reports suggest that Hamas has confirmed that eight of the 33 hostages to be released in this first phase of the truce are deceased.
The future of the ceasefire remains uncertain, as it is unclear whether negotiations for a subsequent phase of the truce have commenced. This next stage would involve releasing the remaining hostages and extending the ceasefire indefinitely; without this arrangement, conflict could reignite as early as March.
Despite the ongoing ceasefire, Israel maintains its commitment to dismantling Hamas, even after the militant group quickly reasserted control over Gaza following the latest truce. A far-right ally in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition is advocating for the resumption of hostilities beyond the current pause.
Hamas has stated it will not consider the release of remaining hostages without a comprehensive end to the conflict and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The attack on October 7 resulted in around 1,200 fatalities, mainly civilians, as a response from Israeli military operations has contributed to the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians, a large proportion of whom have been women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not disclose the number of militants among the deceased.
As part of the ongoing exchanges, 72 security prisoners were set for release on Saturday, with individuals hailing from east Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the occupied West Bank. Seven of these prisoners were expected to be moved to Egypt ahead of further deportation.
From Ofer prison in the West Bank, 47 prisoners were to be freed and transferred to Palestinian custody at the Betunia crossing point near Ramallah, where relatives and supporters awaited a hero’s welcome. These security prisoners had been detained for various offenses, including bomb attacks and affiliations with militant groups, with some cases spanning decades.
One such prisoner is Iyad Abu Shakhdam, who has been imprisoned for nearly 21 years due to his involvement in attacks that killed numerous Israelis during the Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s. Another notable release includes Jamal al-Tawil, a recognized Hamas leader from the occupied West Bank, who has faced multiple arrests over the years.
Since the 1967 Mideast war, Israel has controlled the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem, territories that Palestinians seek for their future nation.
