Three Israeli men, held captive in the Gaza Strip for 16 months, were released by Hamas late last night as part of a fragile ceasefire deal.
Since the truce took effect on January 19, 16 Israeli and dual-national hostages have been freed, as have five Thais outside the agreement.
A total of 33 hostages, eight of whom Israel says are dead, are set to be released during the first 42-day phase of the deal in exchange for approximately 1900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The fate of the remaining children held in Gaza – Kfir Bibas and his brother Ariel – as well as their mother Shiri Bibas, remains unknown.
Three male Israeli hostages have been freed from Gaza in the fifth round of Israel-Hamas ceasefire releases https://t.co/QgXtW1N3nP
— CNN International (@cnni) February 8, 2025
The three men released on Saturday looked frail and disoriented, and were forced by their captors to address crowds gathered at their handover ceremony.
Here is what we know about the men, who are now back in Israel.
Armed men shot dog, set family on fire
Eli Sharabi, who will turn 53 in February, was at his home in the Beeri kibbutz with his British-born wife and their two teenage daughters when Hamas stormed it on October 7, 2023.
The armed men shot their dog before locking the family in their safe room and setting it on fire. The bodies of his wife and two daughters were later identified.
He was taken to Gaza with his brother Yossi. The Israeli military said early last year Yossi was killed and his body was in the hands of Hamas in Gaza.
Freed Israeli hostage looks gaunt, British family says https://t.co/EDst4p2ZJF
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 8, 2025
Abducted with wife from their home
Ohad Ben Ami was abducted with his wife Raz Ben Ami from their home in the Beeri kibbutz.
She was released during a one-week truce in November 2023.
Images have circulated on social media showing him being seized in a T-shirt and underwear.
Ben Ami, who has dual Israeli and German citizenship and turned 56 in captivity, is the accountant for his kibbutz and a keen bike rider.
Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages whose emaciated appearance shocked Israelis following their release on live TV https://t.co/Rv3kHWQ6CD pic.twitter.com/GNAWD8wDrM
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 8, 2025
‘The death bunker’
Or Levy and his wife Einav Levy went to the Nova music festival, leaving their 2-year-old son Almog with his grandparents.
The usually inseparable couple, who met in high school, tried to hide from the Hamas attackers along Route 232, the only path away from the festival.
“When gunfire erupted shortly after their arrival, they sought refuge in a concrete safe room, later known as ‘the death bunker’. There, Einav was murdered, and Or was taken captive,” the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.
Or was abducted with three other young men.
– Agence France-Presse