Hamas has released three more hostages in the fifth liberation of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The three captives are Ohad Ben Ami, 56, who was kidnapped with his wife, Raz Ben Ami, in Kibutz Beeri; Eli Sharabi, 52, who lost his two daughters and wife in Hamas’s attack in Kibutz; and Or Levy, 34, who was forcefully taken at the Nova festival, where his wife Einav was killed, leaving their three-year-old son Almog in the care of his grandparents and brother.
The hostages appeared with serious expressions and looked visibly thin as they climbed onto a stage, escorted by Palestinian militiamen. They directed a few words in Hebrew to the hundreds of Gazans gathered, before being handed over to Red Cross personnel, who took them into three vehicles towards Israeli territory. According to images, those released were interviewed by Hamas’s militia before their final delivery to Israel.
On the stage, a symbol of a fist with a Palestinian flag was displayed, along with the words “Total Victoria” written in Hebrew at the bottom, next to a photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In exchange for the three Israeli hostages, 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be released, including 111 from Gaza who were arrested in the strip after the multiple attacks of October 7, 2023.