Hamas militants released three Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of the fifth prisoner exchange under a fragile ceasefire agreement, with 183 Palestinian prisoners set to be freed by Israel later in the day.
The handover took place in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, where masked Hamas fighters escorted the hostages onto a stage before transferring them to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The stage was adorned with banners depicting destroyed Israeli military vehicles and a somber-looking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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| Close relatives of Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi react as they watch on a television screen his release along with two other hostages in the Gaza Strip, at the family home in Tel Aviv on February 8, 2025. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP) |
The released hostages were identified as Eli Sharabi, Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami. Sharabi, 52, was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri, where his wife and two daughters were killed by militants. Levy was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, where his wife was murdered. Ben Ami, who holds dual Israeli-German citizenship, marked his 56th birthday while in captivity.
The exchange comes amid international controversy following U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to remove Gaza’s inhabitants and place the territory under U.S. control—a plan widely condemned and rejected by Hamas.
Crowds in Tel Aviv erupted in celebration upon witnessing live footage of the hostage release, underscoring the emotional weight of the ongoing conflict and negotiations.