Families of free Israeli hostages report on suffering

shocking pictures from Gaza

Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy appeared and weak when they were presented by the militants on a temporary stage in Gaza before they were handed over to the Red Cross. Israel's government condemned her appearance as "shocking" and made it clear that these scenes could "not be ignored".

The terrible moment of return

Ella Ben Ami, the daughter of Ohad, spoke of her horror when she saw how Hamas presented her father on stage. "I had a lot of pictures of my father in my head, but nothing prepared me for these pictures of him on this stage in Gaza. I was sure that I would be strong, but I fell to the ground and shouted: 'I'm sorry'," she reported.

At a press conference on Sunday, Ella Ben Ami told her father that her father had "walked through hell" and emphasized that the remaining Israeli hostages suffered from the same conditions as her father. She appealed to the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "find a way" to bring them all home. "We have to go to phase B and bring everyone home," she said, referring to the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which provides for the return of the remaining hostages.

changes from captivity

Michael, the brother of Or Levy, expressed that when he returned on Saturday after 16 months, his brother no longer felt like the person who had left the house on October 7, 2023. "He came back in poor physical condition. Anyone who saw the pictures and videos could not ignore it. For 16 months he was hungry, barefoot and in constant fear that everyone could be the last," said Michael.

After his release, OR received the heartbreaking news that his wife Einav was killed during the attack on October 7th. "The worst blow was when OR discovered that Einav, the love of his life, was murdered on this terrible day. For 491 days he held on to the hope of returning to her," said Michael and asked the immediate release of the remaining hostages.

urgent appeal for saving the hostages

Sharon, the brother of Eli Sharabi, described the return of the three hostages as a victory for the Israeli people, but emphasized that the government had to work with a feeling of urgency to save the other hostages. Yossi, another brother, was also taken hostage by Hamas, but later died in Gaza. "Any moment that passes, every second could save life from the Hamas tunnels, of this cruel enemy that has massacrated us since October 7," said Sharon.