Israel shocked about the condition of the hostages

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Lerato Khumalo

Waffenruhe in the Middle East

“Starved” – Israel shocked about the condition of the hostages

Updated on 08/08/2025 – 5:10 p.m.Reading time: 4 min.

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Eli Scharabi on an undated picture before the kidnapping and when he was released from hostage. (Source: Uncredited/Abdel Kareem Hana/Hostage’s Family Forum/AP/dpa/dpa picture)

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Three more dragged from Israel are released from the violence of Hamas. The sight of the hostages shocked many. In return, Israel releases dozens of Palestinians from prisons.

The Islamist Hamas has released three more hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel. In return, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners from his prisons. Hamas left Ohad Ben Ami (56), Or Levy (34) and Eli Scharabi (52) hostage in the Gaza Strip after 16 months. Her emaciated and pale appearance caused horror in Israel.

Recordings of the hostage handover to representatives of the International Committee from the Red Cross (IKRK) showed how the three weakly acting Israelis were initially led to a stage in Deir al-Balah in the center of the Gaza Strip by hooded and armed Hamas members. According to Israeli media, they thanked them in the appearance of their hostage -makers in the appearance of the Hamas.

There was also a fist on the stage with a Palestinian flag. The Islamist organization, which was extremely battered after 16 months after 16 months of war, has always used the release in the past few weeks as a demonstration of power. Hundreds of onlookers persecuted the staged procedure on site, as could be seen in live broadcasts. Israel’s President Izchak Herzog spoke of a “cynical and cruel spectacle”.

Relatives and politicians in Israel reacted dismayed in view of the apparently poor condition of the freed. According to Israeli media, the daughter of Ohad Ben Ami (56) said that she had hardly recognized her father. She just wanted to hug him, said Ella Ben Ami.

According to Israeli media, the brother of Or Levy said that it was difficult to see him in this way after everything he had through. His three -year -old son was excited and could hardly wait to see his father again, Tal Levy said. The child’s mother was killed at the Hamas massacre in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 at the Nova Music Festival.

The relatives of Eli Scharabi, whose wife, together with the two daughters together on October 7, was murdered by terrorists, were relieved about his release. At the same time, they are “sad, but not surprised” about the poor physical condition of the freed -out men, it said.

“This is what a crime against humanity looks like,” said Israeli President Isaac Duke in view of the condition of the hostages. “The whole world has to look at Ohad, Or and Eli, who after 491 days hell, starved, emaciated and suffering.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the “shocking pictures” would not remain unanswered. He announced measures – without naming details. According to government information, Israel complained to the States of Qatar, Egypt and the USA mediating between the country and the Hamas.

Among families of the hostages, who are only supposed to be released in a second phase of the deal, the pictures of the men tighten the fear of the condition of their relatives in the violence of the Islamists.

Recordings published by the government showed how the men were received by the army. The free, hingled or Levy seems to be difficult to fall. He was taken to a clinic in the center of the country. The other two men should also be flown to clinics.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed the release of the hostages. “This is a reason for joy and gives hope,” said the Greens politician on the Bluesky platform. “At the same time, it is unbearable that Hamas performed the three men again publicly at the last moment and forces” interviews “.”

In his thoughts, she was particularly with the German -Israeli Raz Ben Ami, the wife of the released Ohad Ben Ami – she was deported to the Gaza strip herself and was released in November 2023. “14 months after her own release, she can finally put her husband Ohad back into her arms,” ​​wrote Baerbock.

In Ramallah in the West Bank hundreds, hundreds were waiting for the arrival of the Palestinian prisoners from the Ofer prison, reported the local news agency Wafa. Another group of prisoners left a prison in the Negev desert in Israel and was on the way to the Gaza Strip, reported the “Times of Israel”.