Ben Ami, aged 56, and Sharabi, aged 52, were both abducted from their residences in Kibbutz Be’eri, located approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the Gaza border. Ben Ami’s wife, Raz Ben Ami, who was also taken captive on the same day, was released during a brief ceasefire in November 2023. Sharabi’s wife and daughters perished in the October 7 assault, as reported by the kibbutz. It remains uncertain if he was aware of their fate. His brother Yossi Sharabi, who was also captured, passed away in Gaza, with his remains still in the possession of the Israeli military. Levy, aged 34, was attending the Nova music festival on October 7 when he was seized. His wife Eynav lost her life in the attack. Upon his liberation, Levy’s mother Geula informed Israel’s Channel 12 that the hostages “appear thin… they are thin and pale – but gradually, everything will resolve.” She revealed that Levy had reunited with his three-year-old son, Almog, who met him as if nothing had happened, playing together as before. Geula Levy further shared in an interview with Israel’s Kan 11 News that Levy had been unaware of his wife’s demise, stating, “He did not know. He assumed, and inquired, and we informed him.” Hamas has released a total of 16 Israeli hostages in the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement, out of the 33 pledged during this stage at staggered intervals. As confirmed by the Israeli government, eight of the 33 hostages have been reported deceased. After the release of the three hostages on Saturday, Hamas and its allies retain custody of 73 individuals taken from Israel on October 7, 2023, out of the initial count of 251 captives. In addition, three hostages who have been held since 2014 remain in Gaza. Concurrently, Israel released 183 Palestinians on Saturday, transporting some detainees from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank to Ramallah, where video footage of their release exhibited the weakened state of certain prisoners. Recently freed Palestinian detainees have emerged from Israeli custody exhibiting signs of mistreatment and malnourishment, alleging instances of abuse and torture. The Israeli prison system has faced criticism for deliberately reducing food rations for Palestinian prisoners to the minimum necessary for survival, reportedly following directives from the former National Security Minister, Ben Gvir. Gvir’s comments in April 2024 advocating for the execution of Palestinian prisoners through a legislative bill have drawn condemnation. The Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling in October mandated that the conditions at the notorious Sde Teiman detention facility align with Israeli laws. A spokesperson for the Israel Prison Service (IPS) emphasized that the IPS adheres to legal provisions and ensures the full application of basic rights by trained
Y and Ohad Ben Ami have been released to the Red Cross, as captured in a photograph by Oded Balilty/AP. Subsequently, Red Cross vehicles, with Eli Sharabi, Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami on board, have departed following their release by Hamas, as documented by Mohammad Abu Samra/AP.
Tragically, Palestinian militants claimed the lives of over 1,200 individuals during the ruthless attack on October 7, 2023. In response, Israeli bombardment of Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 48,000 people, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. This devastating violence has left much of the enclave in ruins, leading to a dire humanitarian crisis for the surviving residents. The conflict has also spilled over into the broader region, pitting Israel against key Hamas supporter Iran, as well as Tehran’s proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
Amidst this turmoil, uncertainty looms over the fate of the ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas. Negotiations to extend the Gaza ceasefire, set to expire on March 1, are now in jeopardy. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed deep reservations about the second phase of the agreement, which entails the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the repatriation of the remaining hostages. In fact, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has even threatened to resign from the government should the ceasefire be prolonged.
Adding to the complexity, US President Donald Trump made a surprising suggestion on Tuesday evening, proposing that the US should “take over” Gaza, relocate its inhabitants to neighboring countries, and rebuild the war-torn region. While Trump’s remarks found favor among Israeli far-right officials, they were met with strong condemnation from Hamas. The international community also weighed in, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasizing the Palestinians’ right to return home and France’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs underscoring its opposition to any forced displacements.
In response to Trump’s proposal, a Hamas spokesperson denounced it as a “recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region.” The spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri, asserted that the people of Gaza would not stand for such plans and called for an end to the occupation and aggression against their land.
This narrative has been supplemented with further details. Reporting by CNN’s Eugenia Yosef, Kara Fox, and Ivana Kottasovà has contributed to this updated account. For additional CNN news and newsletters, you can register an account on CNN.com.
