Joy turned to shock and tears among Israelis at the emaciated state of three hostages released in Gaza, while seven Palestinian prisoners released as part of the exchange were taken to hospital.
Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over three frail and gaunt looking Israeli hostages in exchange for 200 Palestinian detainees and prisoners in the latest stage of aimed at opening the way to ending the 16-month war in Gaza.
The hostages, 52-year-old Eli Sharabi; 56-year-old Ohad Ben Ami; and 34-year-old Or Levy, were taken during .
Israeli hostage Or Levi appeared gaunt and frail after being released by Hamas. Source: EPA / EPA
‘Action will be taken’
They appeared pale and weak as armed Hamas fighters escorted them from a van onto a stage in Deir al-Balah before being handed over to the Red Cross on Saturday.
“I left XXL, I came back medium,” Ben Ami said as he hugged his daughters after returning home.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the sight of the frail hostages was shocking and would be addressed.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog described the release ceremony by Hamas as cynical and vicious. “This is what a crime against humanity looks like,” he said.
An Israeli Health Ministry representative, Dr Hagar Mizrahi, noted “severe malnutrition” and a “significant decrease” in body weight in the hostages released, as families again feared for the dozens of others still held in Gaza.
“If anyone had any doubt about how urgent it is to bring everyone back … today we got a wake-up call,” Moshe Or, brother of hostage Avinatan Or, told a weekly rally in Tel Aviv.
Gal Hirsch, Netanyahu’s co-ordinator for hostages, said that “we will not remain silent about this. A message has been passed on to the mediators, and action will be taken accordingly”.
Hamas’ military wing said it had made efforts to preserve the hostages’ lives “despite the (Israeli) bombardment.”
Palestinian prisoners taken to hospital
Later on Saturday, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners, some also appearing gaunt and weak.
The Palestine Red Crescent said seven were taken to hospitals. Many Palestinians released during the ceasefire have appeared emaciated and have allegedly endured abuse in custody.
A Palestinian prisoner is checked by medical personnel after being released from Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, 8 February 2025. Source: AP / AP
Eyad Abu Shkaidem, one of the freed Palestinians who had been serving 18 life terms in Israel accused of masterminding suicide attacks, reported mistreatment.
“Today you can announce that I am reborn, I am reborn. The prisoners are suffering a lot, they are being abused,” he said.
Concerns over ceasefire holding
Concern the deal might collapse before all remaining 76 hostages are free has grown since and for the enclave to be handed to the United States and developed into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.
A released Palestinian prisoner is welcomed upon arrival to Ramallah in the West Bank, 8 February 2025. Source: EPA / AAP
Arab states and Palestinian groups , which critics said would amount to ethnic cleansing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, and his defence minister ordered the military to make plans to allow Palestinians who wished to leave Gaza to do so.
Negotiations on a second phase began last week aimed at returning the remaining hostages and agreeing to a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in preparation for a final end to the war.
