Released hostages Or Levy, Eli (Eliyahu) Sharabi, and Ohad Ben Ami crossed the border into Israeli territory on Saturday after spending 491 days in captivity, leaving 76 hostages, both dead and alive, remaining in the Gaza Strip.
An initial medical examination reported to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sheba Medical Center revealed that the former hostages were in serious condition. They appeared starved and may have lost some 30% of their overall weight.
The IDF initially estimated that the hostages would be returned at around 10:00 a.m. in central Gaza. Ultimately, they were not brought out until a little over an hour later.
ICRC vehicles arrived in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza to collect the three from the Hamas terrorist organization, and Red Cross personnel signed documents given by Hamas for their release.
Appearing frail and being supported by Hamas terrorists, the three hostages were forced to speak onstage before being handed over to the ICRC.
In live streams from the Jordanian Alghad TV and Al Jazeera, a stage similar to the one used by Hamas during previous hostage releases was seen. Numerous armed Hamas terrorists were also at the scene.
"Two hundred Qassam members (members of Hamas's military wing) are participating in securing the handover of the Israeli detainees," a Hamas source told the Saudi news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat prior to the release of the Israeli captives.
Condemning Hamas's treatment of hostages
Later, Gazan civilians, including women and children, could be seen flooding in to observe the event.
"The disturbing images from the release of Ohad, Eli, and Or serve as yet another stark and painful evidence that leaves no room for doubt - there is no time to waste for the hostages!" the Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated shortly after the three hostages were released. "We must get them all out, down to the very last hostage. Now!"
The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement announcing its pleasure over the return of the hostages, adding that it was committed to returning the hostages who still remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
"The Israeli government embraces the return of the hostages. Their families have been updated that they are with our forces," the PMO stated. "The shocking images that we have seen today will not go unaddressed," referring to the serious conditions the hostages were in when they were released, notably having lost a lot of weight while in captivity.
The PMO also stated that "In light of the dire condition of the three hostages and the repeated violations by the Hamas terrorist organization, Prime Minister Netanyahu has instructed not to overlook this and to take appropriate action."
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not taking the conditions of the hostages seriously on Saturday.
“Did you now see that the conditions of the hostages are serious?” Lapid asked. “Didn't you know before? Because it was written in the intelligence documents that were placed on your desk in recent months. You have seen these reports just like I have.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the severe weight loss and serious conditions of released hostages is a "crime against humanity" in an X/Twitter post on Saturday.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar conveyed a message to his international counterparts worldwide on Saturday on the severity of the crimes Hamas committed against the hostages they’ve held captive.
“For over a year, the entire international community has danced to the false sound of the so-called ‘starvation’ propaganda in Gaza.
“But the pictures don't lie: The Hamas terrorists and the Gaza residents look great. The Israeli hostages look like Holocaust survivors and are the only ones in the photos who appear to have clearly suffered from starvation.
“Hamas committed crimes against humanity on kidnapped civilians,” he continued. “The Hamas-Nazi evil must be eradicated.”
In exchange for the three hostages, Israel turned over 183 Palestinian security prisoners. Many of the Palestinians have been convicted of terrorism offenses and have been involved in the murder of Israelis.
Levy, Sharabi, and Ben Ami were kidnapped on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel.
A report from Channel 12 indicated that Sharabi told IDF soldiers he was looking forward to meeting his wife, Leanne, and daughters Noya, 16, and Yahel, 13, unaware they had been tragically murdered in their home in Be'eri in the October 7 massacre, as Hamas terrorists dragged him to the Gaza Strip.
"Eli is returning from an impossible reality in captivity to a very difficult reality in Israel," Kibbutz Be'eri said in a statement.
"A reality in which those dearest to him are no longer alive - on October 7, Eli lost his daughters Noya and Yahel, and his wife Leanne, who were murdered in their house in Be'eri in the terrible massacre. His brother, the late Yossi Sharabi, was murdered in captivity, and his body is still being held in Gaza. We will embrace him and give him the best possible support."
Yulie, Ella, and Natalie, the daughters of former hostage Ohad Ben Ami, spoke with their father on Saturday at Ichilov Hospital after his release from Hamas captivity, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum reported.
"Our father has emerged from the horror, and you can see the trauma he endured written on his face," Yulie, Ella, and Natalie stated. "But we are staying strong for him here, just as he stays strong for us, and soon, we'll be able to embrace him. We got our father back. Now, we must not stop until the last hostage is returned."
Sam Halpern, Gadi Zaig, Maya Cohen and Ethan Freedman contributed to this report.