Hamas-led militants released three gaunt, frail-looking Israeli hostages and Israel freed nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners Saturday in the latest exchange of a ceasefire agreement that has paused 16 months of war in Gaza.
The hostages’ condition and scenes of Hamas forcing them to speak in a handover ceremony sparked outrage in Israel and could increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend the ceasefire beyond its current six-week phase.
Emotional Handover Ceremony
Before a crowd of hundreds, armed militants led Eli Sharabi, 52; Ohad Ben Ami, 56; and Or Levy, 34, onto a stage to make statements before handing them over to the Red Cross. The three civilian men were among about 250 people abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war.
Many Palestinians released during the ceasefire have appeared emaciated and pale, and have alleged abuses in Israeli custody.
Complications and Concerns
The ceasefire’s current phase does not appear to be affected by U.S. President Donald Trump’s stunning proposal to transfer the Palestinian population out of Gaza, welcomed by Israel but vehemently rejected by Palestinians and most of the international community.
It's over, it's over,” Levy’s brother Michael said as the two embraced at a military base. Ben Ami’s daughter Ella told Israeli channel 12 that “it took me a moment to realize that this was my father.”
Prisoner Release Details
The Palestinian prisoners released include 18 serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis, 54 serving long-term sentences and 111 Palestinians from Gaza detained after the Oct. 7 attack but not tried for any crime. All are men, ages 20 to 61.
Seven of the released prisoners were transferred to Egypt. Others were transferred to Palestinian custody in the West Bank, where cheering supporters welcomed them.
It’s unclear whether Israel and Hamas have begun negotiating the ceasefire’s second phase. The war could resume in early March if no agreement is reached.
Israel says it is committed to destroying Hamas, which reasserted its rule over Gaza within hours of the ceasefire. Hamas says it won’t release remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
In the Oct. 7 attack, about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed. More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory war, over half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were militants.
0 Comments