Released Hostage Did Not Know Family Had Been Killed

Three visibly exhausted hostages returned on Saturday to Israel, after 16 months of captivity. One of them, 52-year-old Eli Sharabi, comes home to a new, tragic reality: He only now found out that his wife and two children were killed in the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.

» Published: February 08 2025

Released Hostage Did Not Know Family Had Been Killed
Photo: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP/TT

The three men who were released by Hamas on Saturday, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement with Israel, were thin and stumbled towards their families who met them.

Even the 34-year-old former hostage Or Levy's wife was murdered on October 7, but it is unclear whether he was informed of it during his time in Hamas captivity.

The third hostage who was released, Ben Ami, is described by his mother as looking "like a skeleton", reports The Times of Israel.

According to Yael Frenkel Nir, head of Sheba Hospital, Or Levy and Eli Sharabi are in poor condition and are now being treated at the hospital. Ben Ami also has severe malnutrition, according to the hospital.

The situation is more serious this time, says Yael Frenkel Nir according to AFP, and compares the health condition to that of the hostages previously released.

During Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023, around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 people were taken hostage.

On Saturday, 183 Palestinians were also released by Israel. AFP writes that many of them also looked weak and pale.

Many of the Palestinians have been taken prisoner by Israeli forces during the war in Gaza, which according to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled Strip has killed around 48,000 Palestinians.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Utah Enacts Ban on Rainbow
1 MIN READ

Utah Enacts Ban on Rainbow Flags in Schools and Government Buildings

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Russian Drone Attack on Dnipro Leaves Four Dead, Many Injured

Yemen's Huthi Movement Accuses US
1 MIN READ

Yemen's Huthi Movement Accuses US of Airstrikes on Sanaa

Damascus Lifts Alcohol Ban in
1 MIN READ

Damascus Lifts Alcohol Ban in Christian Quarters After Protests

Zelensky Open to Peace Talks
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Open to Peace Talks with Russia, Excluding Putin

South Sudan's Vice President Riek
1 MIN READ

South Sudan's Vice President Riek Machar Placed Under House Arrest

Trump and Canada's Carney Report
2 MIN READ

Trump and Canada's Carney Report Productive Talks on US-Canada Relations

Ukraine Recovers 909 Soldiers' Remains
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Recovers 909 Soldiers' Remains from Russian Conflict

Frederiksen Calls Vance's Criticism of
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen Calls Vance's Criticism of Denmark Unfair During Greenland Visit

Greenland's New Government Aims for
2 MIN READ

Greenland's New Government Aims for Stability and Unity

Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Caught on
1 MIN READ

Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Caught on Camera in 30 Seconds

Putin and Erdogan Talk Black
1 MIN READ

Putin and Erdogan Talk Black Sea Deal and Sanctions Relief

Denmark Proposes Defense Pact with
2 MIN READ

Denmark Proposes Defense Pact with US Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Netanyahu Warns of Renewed Strikes
2 MIN READ

Netanyahu Warns of Renewed Strikes on Beirut After Ceasefire Breach

Myanmar Earthquake Adds to Struggles
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Adds to Struggles in War-Torn Nation

Seismologist Warns of Severe Impact
1 MIN READ

Seismologist Warns of Severe Impact After Myanmar Earthquake

Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Energy
1 MIN READ

Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Energy Sites as Ceasefire Talks Falter

Swedes in Bangkok Share Earthquake
3 MIN READ

Swedes in Bangkok Share Earthquake Fears as City Grapples with Aftershocks

Istanbul Mayor's Lawyer Arrested in
1 MIN READ

Istanbul Mayor's Lawyer Arrested in Turkey, Sparking Outcry

Myanmar Earthquake: Over 150 Dead,
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake: Over 150 Dead, Thousands Feared Lost

US Vice President Visits Greenland
2 MIN READ

US Vice President Visits Greenland Base as Tensions Simmer

Greenlanders Anxious Over US Interest
3 MIN READ

Greenlanders Anxious Over US Interest as Trump Sparks Debate

US VP Visit to Greenland
2 MIN READ

US VP Visit to Greenland Base Sparks Tension and Uncertainty

Canada's New PM Carney Declares
1 MIN READ

Canada's New PM Carney Declares Shift in US Relations

Seized Superyacht Linked to Money
1 MIN READ

Seized Superyacht Linked to Money Laundering Fetches 108 Million

Rubio Warns Venezuela Against Aggression
1 MIN READ

Rubio Warns Venezuela Against Aggression Towards Guyana

Judge Orders Preservation of Leaked
1 MIN READ

Judge Orders Preservation of Leaked Chat on Yemen Discussions

King Charles Hospitalized for Observation
1 MIN READ

King Charles Hospitalized for Observation Due to Treatment Side Effects

Iran Replies to Trump's Nuclear
1 MIN READ

Iran Replies to Trump's Nuclear Energy Letter via Oman

Belgium Probes 40+ Drink-Spiking Rape
1 MIN READ

Belgium Probes 40+ Drink-Spiking Rape Cases in Kortrijk Bars

Denmark Eases Health Criteria to
1 MIN READ

Denmark Eases Health Criteria to Boost Defense Recruitment

Four Parties Form New Coalition
1 MIN READ

Four Parties Form New Coalition in Greenland's Government

Prosecutors Seek Seven-Year Sentence for
1 MIN READ

Prosecutors Seek Seven-Year Sentence for Sarkozy in Libyan Funds Case

Just Stop Oil Ends High-Profile
2 MIN READ

Just Stop Oil Ends High-Profile Protests After Achieving Goals

Putin Warns US Intent on
1 MIN READ

Putin Warns US Intent on Greenland is Serious

Zelensky Urges US to Respond
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Urges US to Respond to Alleged Russian Ceasefire Violations

Five Injured in Central Amsterdam
1 MIN READ

Five Injured in Central Amsterdam Knife Attack

UN Warns Gaza's Food Supplies
1 MIN READ

UN Warns Gaza's Food Supplies May Run Out in Two Weeks

US Health Authority Restructures, Cutting
1 MIN READ

US Health Authority Restructures, Cutting 10,000 Jobs

Macron Announces International Support Force
2 MIN READ

Macron Announces International Support Force Plan for Ukraine