Three Israeli hostages are being released by the terror group Hamas in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners.
Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy were among the 251 people taken hostage by Hamas when it launched a brutal terror attack into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The trio appeared in much worse condition than the previous hostages released by Hamas, and were forced by armed men to read statements to a crowd of hundreds before being handed to the Red Cross to be taken back to Israel on Feb. 8.
Sharabi and Ben Ami were both captured from Kibbutz Beeri, one of the hardest-hit farming communities, while Levy was abducted from the Nova music festival.
Sharabi’s wife and two teenage daughters were killed in the attack. His brother Yossi was also abducted and died in captivity. Levy’s wife was killed during the attack and his now 3-year-old son has been cared for by relatives.
It is unclear whether either of the men were aware of what had happened to their family members.
Ben Ami, a father of three, was kidnapped with his wife, Raz, who was released during a weeklong cease-fire in November 2023.
The hostages’ emaciation and scenes of them being forced to speak in a staged ceremony have caused outrage in Israel, further threatening the already fragile cease-fire brought into effect last month.
Fears about the condition of the prisoners still in captivity are leading to some uncertainty as to whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will prioritize extending the six-week pause in fighting to secure more hostages or resume fighting in Gaza to eliminate Hamas more completely.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the “difficult scenes” were reason to extend the truce and bring home the remaining hostages.
Netanyahu has previously signaled he could resume the war, even if that meant leaving dozens of remaining hostages in Hamas captivity. The war could resume in early March if no agreement is reached.
Hirsch said that “action will be taken accordingly” in response to the conditions of the freed hostages and their forced participation in Hamas ceremonies.
“We will not remain silent about this,” he said.
Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed it had made efforts to protect the Israeli hostages while coming under bombardment from Israeli forces over the last year and a half.
Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the three hostages, seven of whom were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to the Red Crescent.
The Palestinian prisoners released by Israel include 18 serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis, 54 serving long-term sentences, and 111 Palestinians from Gaza detained after the Oct. 7 attack but not tried for any crime. All are men and are aged between 20 and 61.
The first phase of the cease-fire calls for the release of 33 hostages, some living and some dead, in return for nearly 2,000 prisoners, the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, and an increase in humanitarian aid to the territory.
More than 70 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom Israel says 34 are believed to be dead.
Hamas says it won’t release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
