The three hostages were held in severe conditions, according to their testimonies. For most of their captivity, they were given very little food and kept in underground tunnels without exposure to daylight. They stated that they had no way of knowing whether it was summer or winter outside.
Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, and Eli Sharabi were transferred from Hamas captivity to Red Cross personnel in a cynical ceremony, appearing frail and emaciated. Professor Hagai Levine: 'Medical teams must examine them and translate their appearance into diagnoses and treatment.'
Ohad, Or, and Eli are back home, in Israel, after spending 491 days in Hamas captivity. Meanwhile, the Israel Prison Service is gearing up for the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners, including 18 sentenced to life terms, who will be transferred to the West Bank and Gaza.
Eli grew up in Tel Aviv, but as an adult, he fell in love with Kibbutz Be’eri and made it his home until he was kidnapped. His brother Yossi was also abducted and later declared dead in captivity. Meanwhile, his other brother and niece have become prominent faces in the fight to bring back the hostages. 'We have no time to mourn.'
Or Levy, 34, spent just nine minutes with his wife Einav before the terrorist attack on October 7. When the rockets began to fall, they ran to the 'death shelter,' where Einav was murdered. He left behind his three-year-old son, Almog, who is still waiting for his father.
Kidnapped alongside his wife Raz Ben-Ami during the Oct. 7 attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, their ordeal began after an extended period hiding in their safe room.
Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was abducted alongside his wife their home in Kibbutz Be’eri. Eli, 52, was taken from his home in Be’eri; his wife, Lian, and their two daughters were murdered. Or was abducted from the Nova music festival, where he was with his wife, who was killed. Their three-year-old son, Almog, is still waiting for his return.
Israeli delegation heads to Qatar without senior officials, raising concerns about negotiations for second phase of deal
"Any such plan will be classified as a new occupation and met with appropriate resistance" and could derail ongoing ceasefire negotiations and trigger regional instability, a senior Hamas source threatened.
Minister Katz orders IDF to develop voluntary relocation strategy, says European critics "are legally obligated to allow Gazans to enter their territory."