Militants led by Hamas released three Israeli civil and fragile -looking men who had during the last 16 months on Saturday, and Israel was releasing dozens of Palestinian prisoners as part of a fragile agreement that has stopped the war in the Gaza Strip.
Before a multitude of hundreds, Hamas armed combatants led Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and / or Levy, 34, to a scenario, where they were forced to make a public statement before be delivered to the Red Cross.
The three were among about 250 people kidnapped during the attack led by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, which caused the war. They seemed to be in a physical condition much poorer than any of the other 18 hostages launched so far during the top the fire that began on January 19.
The condition of hostages cares about sparks
The demacred condition of the hostages and the ceremony administered by the stage, a deviation of previous hostages launches where the captives were not made to speak, caused indignation in Israel.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “we will not accept the shocking scenes” that were developed. The statement did not present punitive measures.
The leader of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, said that “difficult scenes” were reasons to extend the truce with Hamas and take home the dozen of the remaining hostages.
In an apparent response to the health of the liberated hostages, the Military Wing of Hamas, the Qassam brigades, said they had “made efforts to preserve their lives despite the bombardment (Israeli).”
Many Palestinians released from Israeli prisons during the top fire have also appeared demaciously and pale, and have alleged abuse and abuse in Israeli custody.
The current phase of the truce, which extends until the beginning of March, does not seem to have been affected by the impressive proposal of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to transfer to the Palestinian population of Gaza, welcome by Israel, but rejected with vehemence for the Palestinians and most internationals. community.
But I could complicate conversations in the second phase and more difficult, when Hamas releases dozens more than hostages in exchange for a durable fire. Hamas can be reluctant to release more captive, and lose their main negotiation chip, if you believe that the United States and Israel take the depopulation of the territory, that the rights groups say that it would violate international law.
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This was the fifth exchange of hostages for prisoners during the top fire. Before Saturday, 18 hostages and more than 550 Palestinian prisoners had been released.
The appearance of the three hostages “evokes the horrible images of the liberation of the camps in 1945, the darkest chapter of our history,” said the Families of Hoggings forum, a group that represents relatives of most captives. “We have to get all the hostages out of hell. There can be no more delays. “
The first phase of Alto Fire demands the release of 33 hostages and almost 2,000 prisoners, the return of the Palestinians to northern Gaza and an increase in humanitarian aid to devastated territory. Last week, the injured Palestinians were allowed to leave Egypt for the first time since May.
Who was released on Saturday?
Sharabi and Ben Ami were captured from Kibbutz Beeri, one of the most affected agricultural communities, during the attack led by Hamas. Levy was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival, where he was taking refuge in a safe room when the militants arrived.
Sharabi's wife and the two teenage daughters were killed in the attack. His brother Yossi was also kidnapped and died in captivity. Levy's wife was killed during the attack and her son now has been treated by relatives.
It is not clear if any of the men knows what happened to their families.
Ben Ami, father of three children, was kidnapped with his wife, Raz, who was released for a high -week fire in November 2023.
The relatives of the hostages cheered, applauded and cried while watching the live images of their loved ones being released.
Levy's brother, Michael, said his brother's little son, Almog, already told him that his father was on his way.
“Mogi, we found Dad,” said Michael Levy, told the child, using his nickname, in an interview with Channel 12 Israeli. “We have not seen happiness like that for a long time.”
The 183 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel on Saturday include 18 people who serve life imprisonment against Israelis, 54 long -term convictions and 111 Palestinians of Gaza who were arrested after the attack of October 7 but did not try for any crime . All men are between 20 and 61 years old.
Virtually all Palestinians have a friend, relative or known who has been imprisoned.
More than 100 hostages were released for a high -week fire in November 2023. More than 70 are still in Gaza, and Israel has said that 34 of them are believed to be dead. Israel says that Hamas has confirmed that eight of the 33 that will be launched during the first phase of the truce are dead.
The next phase of Ceasefire is uncertain
It is not clear if Israel and Hamas have begun to negotiate a second phase of high fire, which requires freeing the remaining hostages and extending the truce indefinitely. The war could be resumed in early March if no agreement is reached.
Israel says he is still committed to destroying Hamas, even after the militant group reaffirmed his government over Gaza a few hours after the high fire. A key -right key partner in the Netanyahu coalition is asking the war to resume after the first phase of Alto El Fuego.
Hamas says he will not release remaining hostages without the end of war and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
In the attack of October 7, some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed. More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in the War of Repliation and the Land War of Israel, more than half of them women and children, according to the Ministry of Health of Gaza, which does not say how many dead were militants.
The Israeli army says that it killed more than 17,000 combatants, without providing evidence. Kake Hamas civil deaths because their combatants operate in residential neighborhoods.
Major militants among Palestinian prisoners prepared to release
Of the 72 prisoners who are released on Saturday, five are from East Jerusalem, 14 of the Gaza Strip and the remaining 53 of occupied West Bank. Seven must be transferred to Egypt before greater deportation.
A total of 47 prisoners were released on Saturday of the prison of Offer in the West Bank, and were transferred to Palestine custody near Ramallah, where dozens of family, friends and supporters welcomed some of them encouraging and applauding. An extremely fragile -looking prisoner was loaded directly from a bus to an ambulance for emergency treatment.
Palestinian security prisoners were arrested for crimes ranging from bomb attacks to participation in militant organizations, in some cases dating from decades.
They include Iyad Abu Shakhdam, 49, who has been locked up for almost 21 years because A notorious suicide bus bombard in 2004 in the southern desert city of Beersheba Israel who killed 16 people, including a 4 -year -old boy.
Another is Jamal Al-Tawil, an outstanding Hamas politician in the occupied West Bank and former mayor of the Al-Bireh village, placing Ramallah.
It has been almost two decades inside and outside the Israeli prison, and the military reported their last arrest in 2021 for their alleged participation in violent disturbances and efforts to strengthen Hamas' leadership in the West Bank. It was transferred to administrative detention, a period of six months renewable repeatedly in which the suspects are carried out without charge or trial.
Israel captured the West, Gaza and Jerusalem in the Middle East War of 1967. The Palestinians want the three territories for their future state.