Israel Outraged by Condition of Released Hostages

The release of Israeli hostages on February 8 sparked an outcry in Israeli society. The physical condition of Eli Sharabi (aged 52), Ohad Ben-Ami (aged 56), and Or Levi (aged 34), who had been held by Hamas, raised serious doubts about the group's claims of treating captives well. NewsBox reports.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that such treatment of hostages would not go without consequences, although specific actions were not yet disclosed, according to BBC.

The exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners has been taking place weekly since January 19, following a truce agreement brokered by Qatar. Previously, Hamas sought to create the impression that hostages were kept in good conditions, showing their smiles and waves for the cameras.

However, this time the situation appeared different. The exhausted appearance, sunken eyes, and unhealthy complexion of the released hostages sharply contrasted with previous "showcase" exchanges.

In Israel, the exchange was watched live on large screens set up at the "Hostage Square" in Tel Aviv. The appearance of Sharabi, Ben-Ami, and Levi stirred a wave of emotions and anger among the crowd.

A particularly impactful moment was a short interview with Eli Sharabi before he was handed over to Red Cross representatives. When asked about his wellbeing, he replied that he was happy to be returning to his wife and daughters, unaware that they had been killed in the militant attack on October 7, 2023.

In Israel, this situation is seen as a display of cynicism by Hamas.

The Israeli authorities and the International Red Cross, acting as a mediator in the exchange process, are concerned by the lack of necessary security measures.

For instance, during the exchange on January 30, when three Israeli women and five Thai nationals were released, masked militants led the hostages through an aggressive crowd before handing them over to intermediaries.

Following this incident, Israel temporarily halted the release of Palestinian prisoners for several hours, demanding that Hamas guarantee the safety of Israeli hostages in future exchanges.