On Saturday, Hamas militants released three Israeli men they had held for 16 months. In exchange, Israel freed dozens of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement.
Eli Sharabi (52), Ohad Ben Ami (56), and Or Levy (34) appeared frail when Hamas fighters led them before a crowd. The men made a brief statement before Hamas handed them over to the Red Cross.
Hostages’ health raises concerns
Israel expressed concerns about the hostages’ poor condition and the staged release. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office condemned the scenes but did not announce a response.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called for extending the ceasefire to ensure the safe return of the remaining hostages.
Hamas’ Qassam Brigades claimed it had protected the hostages despite Israeli airstrikes. Some Palestinian prisoners released in the ceasefire also appeared frail and reported mistreatment in Israeli custody.
Ceasefire agreement faces challenges
The ceasefire is set to last until early March, but tensions rise due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments. He proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza, a plan Israel supports but Palestinians and much of the world reject.
So far, Hamas has released 21 hostages. In return, Israel has freed over 550 Palestinian prisoners. The second phase of the deal remains uncertain, and Hamas may refuse further releases if it believes Israel and the U.S. want to force Palestinians out of Gaza.
Released hostages
Sharabi and Ben Ami were taken from Kibbutz Beeri, which suffered heavily in the 7 October attack. Levy was abducted from the Nova music festival while sheltering.
Sharabi lost his wife and two daughters in the attack. His brother Yossi was also kidnapped and died in captivity. Levy’s wife was killed, and his son now lives with relatives. It’s unclear if the hostages know about their families’ fates.
Ben Ami’s wife, Raz, was also kidnapped and released in November 2023.
Relatives of the hostages cheered and cried as they saw their loved ones. Levy’s brother, Michael, told Almog, Levy’s son, “Mogi, we found daddy.”
Palestinian prisoners released
Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the three hostages. The group included 18 people serving life sentences, 54 with long-term sentences, and 111 from Gaza who had been detained since the 7 October attack but never charged.
Crowds in the West Bank greeted the freed prisoners. Some required immediate medical attention, and one frail prisoner was rushed to an ambulance.
Among the released was Iyad Abu Shakhdam, imprisoned for 21 years for Hamas attacks. Jamal al-Tawil, a Hamas politician and former mayor of al-Bireh, was also freed after multiple detentions.
What’s next for the ceasefire?
It is unclear whether Israel and Hamas have started talks for the next phase of the ceasefire. If they don’t reach an agreement, fighting could resume in early March.
Israel insists it will continue efforts to dismantle Hamas. Some Israeli far-right politicians want to end the ceasefire.
Hamas has said it won’t release more hostages unless Israel withdraws completely from Gaza.
The 7 October attack killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 47,000 Palestinian deaths, with more than half being women and children. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants but hasn’t provided evidence.
The released prisoners came from East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank. Some were transferred to Egypt for deportation.
Israel has controlled the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians want these territories for a future state.
As negotiations continue, the ceasefire remains fragile. Both sides must decide their next steps in a conflict that has already taken a heavy toll on both sides.
