Hamas releases 3 more Israeli hostages under Gaza ceasefire deal

Hamas on Saturday released three more Israeli hostages, after nearly 500 days of captivity, to the humanitarian aid organisation Red Cross. The three hostages — Eli Sharabi, Or Levi and Ohad Ben Ami — were released as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal with Israel.

Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi were abducted by terror group Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Eli Sharabi’s wife and children were both killed in the infamous October 7 attack.

In Tel Aviv, Sharabi’s family waited with bated breath as the live broadcast of him walking out of captivity was aired today, reported news agency Associated Press.

Soon after their release, the international media highlighted the thin and frail images of the Israeli nationals, who were reportedly in a worse state as compared to the 18 hostages freed last month.

“He looked like a skeleton, it was awful to see,” Ohad Ben Ami’s mother-in-law, Michal Cohen was quoted as saying to Channel 13 news.

During the handover ceremony, the hostages were made to parade in front of hundreds on the streets of Gaza, flanked by Hamas terrorists, carrying automatic rifles.

Meanwhile, Hamas prisoners’ office said that Israel would free 183 hostages in return as part of the prisoner-hostage swap. Out of the 183 prisoners, 18 were sentenced to life.