Waffenruhe in the Middle East
Israel’s president: hostage “excited” and “emaciated”
Updated on 08/08/2025 – 12:00 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
After handing over the hostage, Israel’s President Herzog speaks of a “crime against humanity”. The released looked emaciated. Prime Minister Netanyahu threatens consequences.
In Israel, the apparently bad condition of the three hostages released by Hamas in the Gaza Strip has caused horror. “This is what a crime against humanity looks like,” said Israeli President Izchak Herzog. “The whole world has to look at Ohad, Or and Eli, who after 491 days hell, starved, emaciated and suffering.”
In view of the processes of release staged by the Islamist Hamas – including the display of the hostages on a stage – Herzog said that the men were exploited for a “cynical and cruel spectacle”.
However, it is a consolation for the country that the three could now return to the arms of their relatives alive, Herzog continued. The three -year -old Almog, for example, now finally has his father, Or Levy. The child’s mother was killed during the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, the father kidnapped.
According to his office, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the “shocking pictures” would not remain unanswered. In a further message, the Israeli head of government also announced measures – without naming details.
The German ambassador in Israel, Steffen Seibert, described the display of the “emaciated hostages” during the release in the Gaza Strip through Hamas as “almost unbearable”. This is a “further terrible crime of terrorists”.
Ohad Ben Ami (56), Or Levy (34) and Eli Scharabi (52) were released on the 491st day of their hostage. They were handed over to the Red Cross in Deir Al-Balah in the center of the Gaza Strip by representatives of the terrorist organization Hamas. In the meantime, the men have been brought back to Israel by the military.
