Three Israeli hostages released by Hamas on Saturday appeared in worse condition than the 18 freed earlier, raising serious concerns about the health of remaining captives.
Dr. Yael Frenkel Nir, director of Sheba General Hospital, warned that long-term captivity under poor conditions has severe health consequences. “We are deeply concerned about the well-being of those still held,” she said, citing findings from previous hostage releases.
Hamas Forces Hostages to Speak at Public Ceremony
The three hostages—Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34—were freed as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Videos showed them being led onto a stage by armed Hamas fighters, where they were seemingly forced to speak before a crowd. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) criticized Hamas for staging hostage releases, calling for private, dignified handovers.
Netanyahu and Israeli Leaders Condemn Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced Hamas as “monsters”, vowing to bring back all hostages and eliminate the militant group.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to publicly condemn Hamas over its treatment of captives.
Meanwhile, public outrage in Israel has intensified, with protests in Tel Aviv demanding that Netanyahu take greater responsibility in hostage negotiations.
Ruby Chen, a protester, called on Netanyahu to prioritize hostage returns, saying the crisis should serve as a wake-up call for Israel.
