Hamas frees three Israeli hostages as Palestinian prisoners released

Hamas has freed three Israeli hostages in Gaza, whereas Israel launched 183 Palestinian prisoners within the newest alternate as a part of an internationally brokered ceasefire deal.

The three hostages – Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy – have been handed over to the Pink Cross on Saturday morning earlier than reuniting with household in Israel.

Issues have been raised about their wellbeing, with Mr Sharabi’s household – who stay within the UK – describing their shock at his “gaunt” look.

Returning Palestinian prisoners have been greeted with scenes of celebration at Ramallah within the occupied West Financial institution. Representatives claimed all of them wanted “medical care”, with out giving specifics.

Thus far, 21 hostages and 566 prisoners have been freed because the ceasefire started on 19 January.

By the tip of the primary stage of the ceasefire in three weeks time, 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are anticipated to have been freed. Israel says eight of the 33 are useless.

As Mr Sharabi, Mr Ben Ami and Mr Levy have been handed over to the Pink Cross in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, crowds lined up, cordoned off by a row of armed fighters, to observe and movie on cellphones, as Hamas and Palestinian flags flew.

A Hamas official and Pink Cross consultant signed paperwork on a stage to finish the handover. The hostages have been then paraded on stage, flanked by males with weapons. The three males posed holding certificates and answered questions right into a microphone, earlier than waving as they have been ushered into Pink Cross automobiles.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed horror on the bodily state of the lads who he mentioned have been “returning after 491 days of hell, starved, emaciated and pained”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu additionally criticised the lads’s state and accused Hamas of “repeated violations” of the ceasefire deal, with out offering specifics.

Talking to BBC Arabic on Saturday, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem mentioned the most recent launch of Israeli hostages had been carried out in a “civilised method”.

He additionally accused Israel of “dragging its toes” on implementing humanitarian aid agreed as a part of the ceasefire.

Netanyahu’s co-ordinator of prisoners and lacking individuals mentioned Israel handled the problems with “nice severity” and would increase them with ceasefire mediators and take motion.

Mr Sharabi’s brother-in-law, Steve Brisley, advised the BBC that having affirmation he’s alive is “what we have been working towards for the final 16 months”.

It was “extremely tough” to see him “skinny, gaunt” and being paraded by Hamas, Mr Brisley mentioned. “It is the sunshine that is gone from his eyes that is actually struck dwelling for me.”

The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board mentioned in a press release that “the disturbing pictures” of the discharge “function yet one more stark and painful proof that leaves no room for doubt – there isn’t any time to waste for the hostages! We should get all of them out, all the way down to the final hostage”.

In the meantime, the Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross (ICRC), which facilitated the handover, mentioned it was “more and more involved in regards to the situations surrounding launch operations”.

“We strongly urge all events, together with the mediators, to take accountability to make sure that future releases are dignified and personal,” it mentioned.

Afterward Saturday, Israel launched 183 Palestinian prisoners. Greater than 70 are serving life or lengthy sentences, and 111 are Gazans detained through the battle. Seven are as a consequence of be deported.

Seven of the launched prisoners have been admitted to hospital in Ramallah due to poor well being, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Membership advised AFP.

“All of the prisoners who have been launched right now are in want of medical care, therapy, and examinations on account of the brutality they have been subjected to through the previous months,” the group’s Abdullah al-Zaghari mentioned.

A type of launched was Jamal al-Tawil, 61, a outstanding Hamas politician within the West Financial institution and former mayor of the village of al-Bireh, who has spent greater than 19 years out and in of Israeli prisons.

His daughter Bushra al-Tawil was freed in an earlier prisoner launch in January.

Each father and daughter have been most just lately held with out cost, media reported.

Khadra al-Daghma, the mom of one other launched Palestinian prisoner, described feeling “so completely satisfied, overjoyed” having seen her son for the primary time in 15 years.

“My coronary heart is crammed with happiness,” she advised a reporter in Gaza, including that her son, Ammar Fadel al-Daghma, had “modified loads” and was “not the identical”.

In keeping with the Israeli Jail Service, he was detained for offences together with arson, tried homicide and repair to an unlawful organisation.

Hamas seized 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 folks when it attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, triggering the battle.

Not less than 47,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, in keeping with Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry. About two-thirds of Gaza’s buildings have been broken or destroyed by Israel’s assaults, the UN says.

Eli Sharabi, 52, was taken from Kibbutz Beeri along with his brother, Yossi, whose demise has since been confirmed. Eli’s British-born spouse, Lianne, and two daughters, Noiya and Yahel, have been murdered within the assault.

Throughout his launch, Mr Sharabi was filmed saying he was “very completely satisfied right now to return to…my spouse and daughters”, including to issues he was unaware his household had been killed.

Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was additionally taken from Kibbutz Beeri, alongside along with his spouse, Raz. She was later launched by Hamas.

Mr Ben Ami, an accountant, is “identified for his logic and sense of humour”, in keeping with the Hostages Households Discussion board.

Or Levy, 34, a pc programmer from Rishon LeZion, a metropolis south of Tel Aviv, fled the Nova pageant along with his spouse Eynav, when gunmen attacked the occasion.

Mr Levy was taken hostage and Eynav’s physique was present in a bomb shelter the place the couple had been hiding.

Hours earlier than they launched the hostage names on Friday, Hamas accused Israel of failing to abide by its dedication to spice up the quantity of humanitarian help allowed into Gaza as a part of the ceasefire deal.

The top of Hamas’s media workplace in Gaza, Salama Marouf, advised a information convention in Gaza Metropolis: “The humanitarian state of affairs stays catastrophic as a consequence of Israeli obstruction”.

He mentioned solely 8,500 out of an anticipated 12,000 help lorries had entered Gaza because the ceasefire got here into impact, and medical gear and shelter provides had been intentionally delayed, in keeping with media experiences.

The allegation contradicts UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, who on Thursday mentioned 10,000 lorries with food, medicine and tents had crossed into Gaza because the begin of the ceasefire in what he referred to as “a large surge”.

Saturday’s alternate happened as US President Donald Trump continued to push his extensively criticised proposal to maneuver all Palestinians from Gaza and redevelop it as a world journey vacation spot.

His announcement – for the US to “take over” the Gaza Strip, resettle its Palestinian inhabitants and switch the territory into the “Riviera of the Center East” – has sophisticated talks on the deliberate subsequent stage of the ceasefire.

However Israeli negotiators are nonetheless anticipated to satisfy mediators in Qatar afterward Saturday.

Trump’s thought was strongly condemned by Arab countries and the UN.