Ohad Ben Ami, Or Levy, and Eli Sharabi were released after nearly 500 days in captivity, but their return was overshadowed by a disturbing propaganda event arranged by their captors. Eli Sharabi, unaware of his family’s tragic fate, faced heartbreak during a coerced statement. Health concerns arose as the hostages showed signs of severe malnutrition. Amid public outrage and calls for urgent negotiations, the Israeli government planned to send a delegation to Qatar for further discussions on hostage releases.
Release of Hostages Marks a Distressing Chapter
After a grueling ordeal lasting nearly 500 days, Ohad Ben Ami, Or Levy, and Eli Sharabi were finally released on Saturday during the fifth hostage exchange related to the ongoing ceasefire. However, their return to Israel was marred by a disturbing propaganda event orchestrated by their captors prior to their departure.
The three men, aged between 34 and 56, appeared visibly frail and weak as they were escorted onto a stage in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, by masked gunmen. With cameras rolling and hundreds of Palestinian spectators watching, they were compelled to speak into a microphone.
A Heartbreaking Revelation
Eli Sharabi, 52, faced a particularly heart-wrenching moment during this coerced appearance. When asked about his well-being, he expressed, “I am very, very happy today that I can return to my family, my friends, my wife, and my children.” Tragically, he later discovered that his wife and three daughters had been killed in the October 7 massacre at Kibbutz Beeri—a fact that had been concealed from him by his captors.
The immediate concern in Israel following their release was the alarming health status of the hostages, which sparked widespread shock and outrage. The Israeli Ministry of Health reported that the men were suffering from severe malnutrition after enduring 16 months in captivity. Or Levy’s family revealed he had lost roughly 20 kilograms, with reports indicating he sometimes received as little as a quarter of a pita bread to eat each day. Only in the final days before their release had the men begun to receive adequate nourishment.
Netanyahu’s office commented on the situation, stating, “The shocking images we saw today will not go unanswered.” However, the specifics of the government’s response remain unspecified.
The public outcry was palpable, with many drawing parallels to historical atrocities. Sharon Aloni Cunio, whose husband remains a hostage, poignantly questioned the meaning of “Never again,” when Jews were suffering under conditions reminiscent of the Holocaust so close to Tel Aviv.
The aftermath of the hostage exchange also included the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners, with some reportedly in poor health. As global scrutiny intensifies regarding Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees, it remains uncertain whether Hamas operatives will ever face consequences for their actions against the hostages.
Amid calls for urgency, the Hostage Families Forum urged that a negotiation team be sent to Qatar to expedite talks aimed at securing the release of all remaining hostages. As Netanyahu returned to Israel, he approved the sending of a delegation to continue discussions, yet many criticize the delay in executing the broader agreement with Hamas. The negotiation for the next phase, intended to include the release of all hostages, is now crucial as time continues to slip away.