Hamas Releases Three Israeli Hostages Amid Ceasefire Deal

Hamas has released three Israeli hostages—Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy—who were abducted during the October 7, 2023, attacks. Their visibly weak and malnourished condition shocked Israelis, as their return was broadcast live, igniting fresh concerns about the welfare of other captives still held in Gaza.

Shocking Condition of Freed Hostages

The three men, taken hostage from Kibbutz Be’eri and the Nova music festival, were presented by Hamas militants in a publicized handover before being transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Their frail appearance drew an emotional response from families and the Israeli public.

“He looked like a skeleton, it was heartbreaking to see,” said Michal Cohen, Ben Ami’s mother-in-law, reacting to the footage of the hostages on Hamas’s stage, where they were forced to answer questions from a masked militant.

This latest release follows previous hostage exchanges under the ceasefire agreement, with 13 Israeli and five Thai captives freed in return for Palestinian prisoners.

Hostage-Prisoner Swap: Key Details

As part of the negotiated swap, Israel will release 183 Palestinian prisoners, including individuals serving life sentences and detainees captured during the war. The ceasefire agreement, which began nearly six weeks ago, has led to the release of hundreds of captives on both sides.