What happend on the day three Israeli hostages were released from Hamas?

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, called on world leaders to take notice of the "harrowing images" of the hostages released from Hamas captivity Saturday, after 491 days in Gaza.

"Leaders and ambassadors from around the world must look at the harrowing images of Or, Eli, and Ohad, who returned to Israel today, and understand that we will not stop until we bring everyone home and eliminate the Hamas monsters. No declarations or resolutions will stand in our way," Danon said in a post on X/ Twitter.

Egypt condemned statements by Israeli officials suggesting the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory as "irresponsible" on Saturday.

Egypt's foreign ministry said in a statement the idea was a "direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty" and that the kingdom's security was a "red line for Egypt."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to be joking this week when he responded to an interviewer on pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 who misspoke by saying "Saudi state" instead of "Palestinian state" before correcting himself.

Eli (Eliyahu) Sharabi was released this Saturday morning after 491 days in Hamas captivity, only to discover that his family had been murdered on October 7, Israeli media reported.

In a shocking and cynical release ceremony, Hamas informed him of the death of his brother, the late Yossi, in captivity - with his body still being held in Gaza.

Reports indicate that Sharabi told IDF troops that he was looking forward to meeting his wife and daughters, not knowing that they had been murdered in their home in Be'eri in the October 7 massacre.

"During the Holocaust, the films were in black and white. We must get the hostages out alive as soon as possible—they don’t have time! What they are going through is a crime against humanity. After that, all the bodies of the hostages must be returned—their families are in a trauma that has no end," Gal Cohen, the Kibbutz Be'eri secretary, said on Saturday.

One of Eli Sharabi’s close friends, Niv Alon, commented, "The joy was very short-lived, and in an instant, it turned into sorrow and anger at the sight of Eli. Now, we all need to be strong to support him, and we have a long road ahead of us."

Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank celebrated the release of 183 detainees from Israeli prisons on Saturday.

A drone view of people gathering during the arrival of the freed Palestinian prisoners, after they were released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the West Bank, February 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)

People react as Palestinian prisoners are greeted after being released from an Israeli jail, as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled)

A freed Palestinian prisoner is greeted after being released from an Israeli jail, as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Ramadan Abed)

Former hostage Eli Sharabi reunited with his family at Sheba Medical Center following his release on Saturday after 491 days in Gaza captivity. 

Professor Hagai Levine, head of the medical response team for the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, issued a dire warning on Saturday, saying the remaining captives may not survive much longer.

“As we have warned, all the hostages are in mortal danger,” Levine said in a statement. “No one should be surprised that people emerging from hell look the way they do. What we see is the result of unthinkable suffering—starvation, thirst, darkness, physical and psychological abuse, lack of medical care, and isolation.”

“The hostages released today will need long-term rehabilitation, and we trust their families and medical teams to give them the best care possible. But full recovery is impossible while their fellow captives remain in Hamas’s hands.”

Freed hostage Ohad Ben Ami greeting his family following his release from Hamas captivity.

Ohad Ben-Ami and Eliyahu Sharabi are now taking off in Air Force helicopters with their families to hospitals where they will receive medical treatment and meet with the rest of their families.