Israel Hamas releases three more hostages
The Islamist Hamas has handed over three more hostages in the Gaza Strip to the Red Cross as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel. Ohad Ben Ami (56), Or Levy (34) and Eli Sharabi (52) were released on the 491st day of their hostage-taking in Deir al-Balah in the center of the Gaza Strip, as seen in live television footage.
08.02.2025, 10:41
08.02.2025, 10:42
SDA
The Israeli army confirmed the handover of the hostages by Hamas, citing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The aid workers were to hand over the emaciated-looking men to the Israeli military shortly.
In return for their release, 183 Palestinian prisoners were to be released from Israeli jails. Among them are 18 with life sentences and 111 Palestinians who were arrested in the Gaza Strip after October 7.
Hundreds of onlookers watched the hostage handover, as television footage showed. Unlike almost a week and a half ago, however, there was no jostling crowd and no chaos through which the hostages had to make their way. Numerous masked Hamas members, most of them armed with submachine guns, were also present - as they had been during the previous hostage releases.
Footage showed how the pale and thin-looking men were led onto a stage by Hamas members. According to Israeli media, they thanked Hamas for their "care" during their hostage-taking in a choreographed performance.
A fist with a Palestinian flag could also be seen on the stage. The Islamist organization, extremely weakened militarily after 16 months of war, has always used the releases in recent weeks as a demonstration of power. With the staged procedure surrounding the hostage handover, Hamas wants to show the world who is in charge in the Gaza Strip.
Hostages have lost close relatives
Among those released is 56-year-old Ohad Ben Ami, who reportedly also has German citizenship. He was abducted during the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Beeri, which is located near the Gaza Strip.
In addition, 34-year-old Or Levy was released. He and his wife were at the Nova music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip 16 months ago. Both fled from the terrorists into a shelter, where Levy's wife was killed and he himself was abducted. They had left their young son with his grandparents. According to relatives, he jumped for joy on his bed when he heard of his father's return on Friday.
Eli Sharabi was also released. Terrorists murdered his wife and two daughters during the Hamas massacre. The body of his brother is being held by Islamists in the Gaza Strip.
The men were to meet their families after their return to Israel following an initial medical examination at an army facility. They were then to be taken to clinics in the center of the country.
76 hostages still in the Gaza Strip
Palestinian terrorists abducted the hostages during the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. Since the beginning of the ceasefire in the Gaza war on January 19, Hamas has already released 16 of a total of 33 Israeli hostages who are to be handed over by Hamas during the first phase of the three-stage agreement. The terrorist organization also released five Thais, but not as part of the agreement with Israel.
Hamas had previously announced that eight of the 33 Israeli hostages were dead. It is unclear exactly who they are.
Following the release of three more abductees, a total of 76 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli reports, 35 of them are dead. The next hostages are due to be released next weekend. In total, more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners are to be released in the first phase in exchange for the hostages.
Concerns about ceasefire after Trump's Gaza plans
Relatives of the hostages had expressed concern that US President Donald Trump's plan to relocate the approximately two million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip could lead to a collapse of the ceasefire and thus thwart the release of further hostages.
In the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced that the USA would "take over" the Gaza Strip and turn it into an economically flourishing "Riviera of the Middle East". According to Trump's plan, the inhabitants of the area are to be accommodated in other Arab states in the region in future. The plan was met with fierce opposition from the Palestinians and Arab states.
Efforts for second phase of ceasefire underway
The ceasefire was negotiated during laborious indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the USA, Qatar and Egypt. Efforts are underway to reach agreement on a second phase of the agreement, which should lead to a final end to the war and the release of the remaining hostages.
As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, the Egyptian border crossing to the Gaza Strip in southern Rafah was reopened a week ago for the first time in almost nine months. Patients from the coastal strip were brought to Egypt for treatment and humanitarian aid was transported to the Gaza Strip via the crossing. Previously, hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons from the south of the Gaza Strip were able to return to the north.
Terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups had killed around 1,200 people and taken more than 250 Israelis hostage in the Gaza Strip during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The attack triggered the war in the sealed-off coastal area, where more than 47,500 people have since been killed, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. The figure does not distinguish between civilians and fighters.
