IDF confirms hostages are en route to Israel for medical assessment; emotional scenes as families react to their release.
Tel Aviv [Israel], February 8: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that three Israeli hostages released by Hamas are on their way back to Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment. Their release comes as part of a prisoner exchange deal in which Israel is set to release 183 Palestinian prisoners.
In a post on X, the IDF stated:
“The three returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF and ISA forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment. The IDF salutes and embraces the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel.”
Propaganda Before Release
Before their release, Hamas staged a propaganda ceremony in Gaza. The hostages—Ohad Ben Ami (56), Eli Sharabi (52), and Or Levy (34)—were paraded on stage in a carefully orchestrated event, appearing frail and visibly thin. A Hamas operative, wearing a green face mask, delivered a speech while banners reading “We’re the flood, the war’s next day” were displayed in Arabic, Hebrew, and English.
The Red Cross facilitated the handover, escorting the hostages from Hamas custody to IDF and Shin Bet forces, who then transferred them out of Gaza.
Families React to Emotional Reunion
The families of the released hostages reacted with a mix of relief and heartbreak as they saw their loved ones for the first time in months.
- Michal Cohen, the mother of Ohad Ben Ami, expressed shock at her son’s deteriorated condition. Speaking to Channel 12 News, she said, “He looks terrible. He is 57, but he looks ten years older. It is so sad for me to see him like this.”
- Tal Levy, brother of Or Levy, also shared his distress: “He looks very, very thin, and it’s difficult to see him like this. But he’s coming back, and he’ll recover.”
- The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged the Israeli government to secure the release of all remaining captives, stating, “The disturbing images from the release of Ohad, Eli, and Or serve as painful evidence—there is no time to waste for the hostages!”
Israel Releases Palestinian Prisoners in Exchange
As part of the deal, Israel has begun releasing 183 Palestinian security prisoners, including:
- 111 detainees from Gaza who were arrested during the ongoing war
- 72 prisoners from the West Bank and East Jerusalem
- Seven prisoners who will be deported upon release
- 18 prisoners serving life sentences
The prisoners are being released from Keziot Prison in the Negev and Ofer Prison in the West Bank.
This hostage-prisoner exchange follows heightened diplomatic efforts and pressure from international mediators seeking to de-escalate tensions in the region.