Hamas kidnapped hundreds of hostages and killed more than 1,200 people in the October 7, 2023, massacre prompting Israel’s all-out offensive in Gaza, killing tens of thousands
Hamas has handed over three more Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip as the tentative ceasefire continues to hold.
The hostages, who have been named by Hamas as being male civilians Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy, were handed over to the Israeli military this morning and are being taken for a medical assessment.
“The commanders and soldiers of the Israel Fedense Forces salute and embrace the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel,” The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement “The The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit asks everyone to respect the privacy of the returning hostages and their families.”
They join the 18 hostages who have been freed since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19. Israelis packed Hostages Square in Tel Aviv ahead of the release this morning. Among those in the crowd include the family members of those who were kidnapped and killed by Hamas militants.
Moments before the hostages were passed to the Red Cross, two of the humanitarian organisation’s workers appeared on stage in Gaza and signed documents with a Hamas official. The documents were then exchanged with Hamas officials as the fighters affiliated with the terrorist organisation raised their fists in unison.
The hostages, dressed in brown shirts and trousers, appeared much thinner and were led onto the same stage. They were escorted by Hamas militants who brandished firearms throughout the proceeding.
The hostages then spoke on stage and called for an end to the war. But the context in which they said their statements was that they were surrounded by armed Hamas militants and moments away from being released. They were then led to waiting Red Cross cars to be driven to the border with Israel.
The Hostages and Families Forum Headquarters said in a press release the “disturbing images from the release of Ohad, Eli and Or serve as yet another stark and painful evidence that leaves no room for doubt – there is no time to waste for the hostages. We must get them all out, down to the very last hostage.”
The family of Eli cheered as he was released but quickly remarked about how thin he appeared. One member of the family said all the hostages appeared to be squinting, indicating they could be unaccustomed to daylight, the BBC reported.
Residents in Israli Kibbutz Be’eri told the BBC about their excitement ahead of the release. “Simon King said: “We are glued to the screen, flipping back and forth waiting for Eli and Ohad to be freed.” 101 people were killed in Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas raid on October 7, 2023.
Israel has released some 383 prisoners with Hamas saying 183 more will be returned later today. As part of the ceasefire agreement about 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are set to be freed at the end of the first phase of the agreement – although Israeli officials have said eight of the hostages are dead.
The exchange comes in the aftermath of a brutal Israeli campaign in Gaza that led tens of thousands of Palestinians dead. They launched the offensive after Hamas took hundreds of hostages and killed some 1,200 people when Israel was attacked on October 7, 2023.
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