Three Israeli hostages have just been led onto a stage and interviewed by Hamas fighters before being released.
Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34 were taken onto a platform in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, where they were seen holding certificates, before being spoken to by the militant group.
Banners on the stage read: ‘We’re the flood, we’re the war’s next day.’
The lads, who looked gaunt, were then taken to waiting Red Cross vehicles and driven away from the staging area.
They are going to now be transported to Israel and brought by IDF helicopters to fulfill with medical staff and their families.
Cheers broke out in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel as the boys appeared on screen.
Their release comes as a part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that began on 19 January.
All were abducted in the course of the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that sparked the war after some 1,200 people were killed.
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Speaking ahead of the handover, Michael Levy, Or Levy’s brother, said his three-year-old nephew, Almog, already knows that his father was on his way.
Michael said the family had told Almog that his mother was killed on October 7, was not returning but that they were looking for his father.
‘Mogi, we found daddy,” Michael Levy said he told the boy, using his nickname, in an interview with Israeli Channel 12. ‘We haven’t seen happiness like that in him for a very long time.’
Osnat Sharabi Matalon, Eli Sharabi’s sister, told the news channel the family was stunned that he was finally being freed. ‘Until we see, touch and hug him, it looks like it isn’t happening.’
Eli’s British wife and two teenage daughters were killed on October 7. The family have no idea if Eli is aware of Lianne, Noiya and Yahel’s deaths, reports the BBC.
The ceasefire paused the 15-month war within the Gaza Strip where Israel’s retaliatory attack killed greater than 47,000 people, over half of them believed to be women and kids.
It can be the fifth swap of hostages for Palestinian prisoners for the reason that ceasefire began.
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Twenty one hostages and greater than 550 prisoners have been freed thus far.
Several of the prisoners are women and kids. Some are accused of minor offences equivalent to throwing stones, while others haven’t been convicted and even formally charged.
Israel has promised it’ll release 1,900 prisoners in total as a part of phase considered one of the ceasefire deal.
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