Three male Israeli hostages were freed from Gaza in the fifth round of exchanges between Israel and Hamas Saturday, but have left many in Israel concerned by the freed captives’ appearances,
CNN reports.
Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy – all taken hostage during the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel – were handed to the Red Cross in the central city of Deir al-Balah on day 491 of their captivity in Gaza. While the transfer was orderly - in contrast to chaotic scenes surrounding the release of Israeli and Thai hostages in Gaza last week - the three appeared thin and pale when they were led onto a makeshift stage.
Many of the Palestinian prisoners that have been freed by Israel in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement have also appeared emaciated and in poor health upon their release.
Both Ami and Sharabi were dressed in brown. The hostages delivered speeches in Hebrew while they stood on the stage, before they were led to three Red Cross vehicles waiting to take them back to Israel.
The Red Cross then passed the hostages to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza, who have transferred them back to Israel, where they will undergo a medical assessment.
The images during Saturday’s handover have drawn condemnation from Israel. Levy – who was released as he was considered a humanitarian case – appeared particularly frail.
The Israeli government described the scenes as “shocking” and said they “would not go unaddressed,” while Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the freed hostages’ appearances were “disturbing.”
Levy – who was released as he was considered a humanitarian case – appeared particularly frail.
A veteran Israeli negotiator turned peace activist said Saturday that the gaunt condition of three Israelis would remind many Israelis of Nazi concentration camp survivors.
“Seeing the three hostages this morning as if they had been liberated from World War II concentration camps should compel us all to accelerate the release of all hostages,” Gershon Baskin said in a statement.
The mother of Matan Zangauker, a 25-year-old still held in Gaza derided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for extending his trip to Washington and not doing more to free her son.
“The three who returned today are Holocaust survivors,” Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan Zangauker, said in an impassioned video. “My Matan is going through a Holocaust!”
