In a significant development under the internationally brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas has released three Israeli hostages, while Israel has begun freeing more Palestinian prisoners. The exchange, which took place on Saturday, marks another step in the ongoing truce between the two sides.
The three Israeli hostages—Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy—were handed over to the Red Cross in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, before being transferred to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and taken to Israel. Crowds gathered to witness the handover, with Hamas and Palestinian flags flying, as armed fighters cordoned off the area. A Hamas official and a Red Cross representative formally signed paperwork on a stage to complete the transfer. The hostages were briefly paraded, given certificates, and asked questions before being placed into Red Cross vehicles.
Steve Brisley, Sharabi’s brother-in-law from Wales, expressed mixed emotions. He described feeling “joy and relief” upon confirmation of Sharabi’s survival but was deeply affected by his appearance, saying, “It’s the light that’s gone from his eyes that’s really struck home for me.”
As part of the ceasefire deal, Israel is set to release 183 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday. Among them, more than 70 are serving life or long sentences, while others were detained during the war. Celebrations erupted in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank as families and supporters awaited their return. Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, at least 21 hostages and 383 Palestinian prisoners have been freed. By the end of the first phase of the agreement, a total of 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are expected to be released. However, Israel has stated that eight of the 33 hostages are already deceased.
Eli Sharabi, 52, was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri, where his brother Yossi was also taken and later confirmed dead. His British-born wife, Lianne, and two daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were murdered in the attack. Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was also kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri, along with his wife Raz, who was later released. A respected accountant, he is known for his “good judgment and sense of humor.” Or Levy, 34, a computer programmer from Rishon LeZion, was abducted while fleeing the Nova music festival with his wife, Eynav. She was later found dead in a bomb shelter where they had sought refuge. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described the released footage as “disturbing” and emphasized the urgency of securing the freedom of all remaining captives.
Shortly before Friday’s announcement of the latest hostage exchange, Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet its commitments regarding humanitarian aid under the ceasefire agreement. Salama Marouf, head of Hamas’s media office, claimed that only 8,500 out of the expected 12,000 aid trucks had entered Gaza, and that critical medical and shelter supplies had been deliberately delayed. However, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher contradicted this, stating on Thursday that 10,000 trucks carrying food, medicine, and tents had reached Gaza since the ceasefire began, calling it “a massive surge.”
Meanwhile, Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas, who was freed on February 1, made a public appeal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to bring back his wife and children, who remain in captivity. “Prime Minister Netanyahu, I’m now addressing you with my own words… bring my family back, bring my friends back, bring everyone home,” Bibas pleaded. Hamas has claimed that Bibas’s wife, Shiri, and their two sons, Ariel and Kfir, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023, though no evidence has been provided, and Israel has not confirmed their deaths.
In a separate development, hundreds of people—including armed Hamas fighters—attended the funeral of senior Hamas military commander Marwan Issa in central Gaza on Friday. Israel had claimed Issa was killed in an airstrike in March 2024, but Hamas only confirmed his death last week. Issa was considered a key strategist behind the group’s October 7 attack.
Adding to the geopolitical complexity, former U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed relocating the Palestinian population from Gaza and transforming the territory into an international tourist hub, branding it the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The plan has been widely criticized and is expected to complicate negotiations on the next phase of the ceasefire. Despite the controversy, Israeli negotiators are still set to meet with mediators in Qatar on Saturday to discuss further exchanges and the broader ceasefire framework.
The war began after Hamas’s October 7 attack, in which 251 hostages were taken and around 1,200 Israelis were killed. In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 47,500 Palestinians have been killed since then. The United Nations estimates that about two-thirds of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli airstrikes. As negotiations continue, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, with efforts ongoing to secure further releases and improve conditions for civilians caught in the conflict.
