Israel has welcomed the return of three hostages after Hamas showcased them before a large crowd in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, preceding their release. In exchange, numerous Palestinian detainees are expected to be freed as part of a ceasefire agreement established between Gaza and Israel.
According to both Hamas and Israeli sources, the released hostages are Eli Sharabi, 52; Ohad Ben Ami, 56; and Or Levy, 34. All three were taken captive during the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and ignited ongoing conflict.
This marks the fifth exchange of hostages for prisoners since a ceasefire was initiated on January 19. In the preceding exchanges, eighteen hostages and over 550 Palestinian prisoners were released.
There were concerns that a controversial proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump to relocate the Palestinian population out of Gaza might jeopardize the sensitive negotiations pertaining to this agreement.
This ceasefire has temporarily halted a prolonged 15-month conflict in Gaza, where Israel’s retaliatory operations have led to the deaths of over 47,000 individuals, with more than half being women and children, according to reports from Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Here are the latest developments regarding the situation:
Israel began the process of releasing several Palestinian prisoners. Reports from the West Bank city of Ramallah indicated that a bus transporting several Palestinian detainees arrived at a designated meeting area, where family and friends awaited their return.
In Tel Aviv, three Israeli hostages appeared visibly weak and were compelled to address the crowd as part of a staged release event flanked by armed militants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office expressed dismay over the “disturbing scenes” witnessed during the event, although no specific punitive actions were proposed, given that earlier releases had experienced significant unrest, which delayed subsequent prisoner releases.
Isaac Herzog, Israel’s ceremonial president, described the ordeal faced by these hostages as “491 days of hell” characterized by neglect and suffering, adding that they were being exploited in a cruel display.
Meanwhile, Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition, suggested that the unsettling scenes should prompt an extension of the truce with Hamas to facilitate the return of the remaining hostages.
In the UK, relatives of Eli Sharabi expressed mixed emotions regarding the news of his release. Gillian and Pete Brisley, his in-laws, followed the handover with a sense of both joy and distress, especially noting Sharabi’s frail appearance. Pete Brisley likened Sharabi’s condition to that of someone who had survived a concentration camp.
Prior to the handover, the family was concerned whether Sharabi had been informed about the tragic loss of his wife and two teenage daughters during the October 7 attack. His wife’s brother, Stephen Brisley, expressed hope that Sharabi had received this news beforehand to lessen the potential emotional burden of learning such devastating information after enduring captivity.
Following the handover, Israel confirmed that the three hostages had been received and were transferred to the Red Cross in Gaza for medical evaluations before being reunited with their families.
The family of Eli Sharabi erupted with joy upon seeing him on television during his release, but the celebration quickly shifted to concern as they processed his fragile condition after sixteen months of captivity. Some relatives, stationed at the home of Sharabi’s extended family in Tel Aviv, celebrated while simultaneously worrying about his health, emphasizing their relief that he is alive.
In a public square in central Tel Aviv, designated “Hostages Square” due to its association with protests from families of hostages, supporters carrying posters of others still in captivity called out, “Bring them home!” as a show of solidarity for the ongoing situation.
The three hostages were paraded by Hamas at the exchange site in Gaza Strip before their release, with each captive made to deliver a statement to the audience, a departure from previous exchanges where hostages remained silent.
Vehicles from the Red Cross arrived at the exchange location in Gaza ahead of the planned release of the three Israeli hostages.
In Tel Aviv, Or Levy’s brother, Michael, shared the excitement of their three-year-old nephew, Almog, upon learning that his father was en route home. Michael had to explain to Almog that his mother would not be returning following her death during the attack on October 7, making the moment bittersweet. “Mogi, we found daddy,” Michael said, highlighting the joy in his nephew upon hearing the news.
Osnat Sharabi Matalon, Eli Sharabi’s sister, expressed disbelief at the news of her brother’s release, saying it felt surreal until they could physically embrace him. Family members gathered at Eli Sharabi’s home in Tel Aviv to witness his release as the anticipation grew.
Locals from Kibbutz Beeri, where both Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben Ami originated, gathered proudly waving Israeli flags and holding signs welcoming the returning hostages.
Meanwhile, in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, numerous masked and armed Hamas fighters were observed gathering at the exchange site, some driving vehicles equipped with mounted guns, ensuring security while an audience looked on from a distance, confined by the presence of the armed group.
