Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip – Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday handed over three Israeli hostages whose frail appearance shocked Israelis, while Israel simultaneously released dozens of Palestinian prisoners as part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
RELATED NEWS : Today, Hamas releases three hostages as Israel begins freeing Palestinian prisoners
Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi, who were abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, along with Or Levy, taken from the Nova music festival that same day, were led onto a Hamas podium by armed gunmen. The three men appeared significantly weakened, pale, and emaciated—worse than the 18 hostages previously released under the ceasefire that began in January after 15 months of war.
“He looked like a skeleton, it was awful to see,” said Ohad Ben Ami’s mother-in-law, Michal Cohen, speaking to Channel 13 News as she watched the Hamas-orchestrated handover. The scene, which featured the hostages being questioned by a masked man while flanked by militants with automatic rifles, stirred a mixture of relief and distress among Israelis who witnessed their release.
Later on Saturday, Israel freed 183 Palestinian detainees, some of whom also appeared frail and malnourished. The Red Crescent reported that seven were taken directly to hospitals for urgent medical attention.
This marked the fifth prisoner exchange since the ceasefire took effect on January 19.
The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed growing concern over the conditions surrounding these releases, calling on all parties to ensure that they are conducted in a dignified and private manner.
Many Palestinians released in previous exchanges have appeared visibly weakened and have alleged mistreatment while in Israeli custody, further fueling tensions amid the fragile ceasefire.
With each exchange, the humanitarian concerns continue to mount, raising questions about the long-term viability of the ceasefire and the broader implications for peace in the region.
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