Sun Feb 09 06:22:17 UTC 2025: ## Emaciated Israeli Hostages Released by Hamas Amid Outrage and Emotional Reunions

**GAZA/TEL AVIV –** Three Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas for nearly 500 days were released Saturday, sparking a wave of outrage and emotional reunions in Israel. Eli Sharabi, Or Levi, and Ohad Ben Ami were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza as part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement. Their severely emaciated condition upon release shocked the nation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Hamas as “monsters,” vowing to eliminate the group. Images and video of the hostages, appearing gaunt and weak during a staged Hamas handover ceremony, quickly circulated, prompting the Israeli government to release “before and after” photos with the simple caption, “There are no words.”

The hostages’ families were overcome with emotion upon their return. While Ben Ami, upon seeing his daughters, even managed a joke about his weight loss (“I left XXL and came back medium”), Sharabi’s reunion was bittersweet; he was unaware of the deaths of his wife and two daughters during the October 2023 Hamas attack.

Medical professionals confirmed the three men were in poor health, suffering from severe nutritional deficiencies. Dr. Gil Fire of Ichilov Medical Center described Ben Ami’s condition as “severe nutritional state” with significant weight loss. Sheba Hospital director Yael Frenkel Nir stated that the condition of Sharabi and Levi was also “poor,” noting the severity was greater than previous hostage releases under the ceasefire.

The release of the hostages came after Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners, some convicted of deadly attacks, as part of the exchange. While celebrations among freed Palestinian prisoners’ families were prohibited by Israeli authorities, reports emerged from Ramallah detailing the poor medical condition of several released individuals, including allegations of torture. One Palestinian prisoner, Ibrahim Mohammad Al-Shawish, described 45 days of blindfolding, shackling, and alleged torture including electric shocks and dog attacks. His testimony, along with images, highlighted the contrasting experiences of those released on both sides. The deeply emotional and politically charged event underscores the ongoing tensions and complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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