08
Feb
Feb
ISRAELI HOSTAGES RELEASED BY HAMAS, RAISING CONCERNS OVER THEIR CONDITION
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Nicolas Adekeye / 4 weeks
- 0
- 2 min read
Three Israeli hostages, Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy, were released by Hamas on Saturday, after being held captive for 491 days. The hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and later reunited with their families in Israel. However, the condition of the released hostages has raised concerns, with Israel describing the scenes as “shocking” and saying they “would not go unaddressed.” The hostages appeared thin and pale, with Levy looking particularly frail. Gershon Baskin, a veteran Israeli negotiator, said the condition of the released hostages should “compel us all to accelerate the release of all hostages.” He added that the images reminded him of Nazi concentration camp survivors. The release of the hostages is part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. However, uncertainty looms over the future of the agreement, with negotiations on extending the Gaza ceasefire in doubt. In a separate development, US President Donald Trump proposed that the US “take over” Gaza, relocate its residents to neighboring countries, and redevelop the war-torn enclave. The proposal was met with international condemnation, with Hamas describing it as a “recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region.” “We will not allow these plans to pass, and what is required is to end the occupation and aggression against our people, not expel them from their land,” said Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri.