Gaza Strip – February 8, 2025 – Three more Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip are set to be released on Saturday as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Israel and the militant group.

The hostages, named by Hamas as Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy, will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The latest exchange brings the total number of hostages freed since the ceasefire began on January 19 to 18, with Israel reciprocating by releasing 383 Palestinian detainees.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas has agreed to release a total of 33 hostages, of whom Israel has confirmed eight are deceased.

In return, Israel is set to release 1,900 Palestinian prisoners by the end of the first stage of the truce, which is expected to last for three weeks.

A Painful Reunion: Hostage Families React

The news of the impending release has sparked an emotional response among family members and advocacy groups campaigning for the hostages’ return.

Eli Sharabi, 52, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Be’eri during Hamas’s October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis.

His brother, Yossi, was also kidnapped but has since been confirmed dead. Sharabi’s wife, Lianne, originally from Britain, and their daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were murdered in the attack.

His brother-in-law, Stephen Brisley, who resides in Wales, expressed both relief and sorrow upon hearing the news. “Eli coming home alive would be perhaps the greatest memorial to Lianne and the girls,” he told the BBC. “We’re so close to achieving that now.”

Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was also kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri along with his wife, Raz, who was later released by Hamas. The accountant is described by the Hostages Families Forum as a man “known for his good judgment and sense of humor.”

Or Levy, 34, a computer programmer from Rishon LeZion, was abducted while fleeing the Nova music festival with his wife, Eynav. Tragically, Eynav was later found dead in a bomb shelter where they had sought refuge during the attack.

Israel Prepares for Prisoner Release

As part of the ceasefire arrangement, Israel is expected to release 183 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday.

More than 70 of those slated for release are serving life sentences or long prison terms, while others were detained during Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

The Israeli government has faced increasing domestic pressure over the prisoner exchanges, with some right-wing factions opposing the release of Palestinians they view as a security threat.

However, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which has been at the forefront of advocating for the captives’ return, issued a statement on Friday emphasizing their commitment to securing the release of all remaining hostages.

“We will not give up or stop at any stage until all hostages return home under the current agreement – down to the very last one – the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial.”

Humanitarian Aid Dispute Amidst Ceasefire

Despite progress on the hostage-prisoner exchange, tensions remain high between Israel and Hamas over humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. Hamas has accused Israel of failing to uphold its commitment to allow increased aid into the besieged territory.

“The humanitarian situation remains catastrophic due to Israeli obstruction,” Salama Marouf, head of Hamas’s media office in Gaza, said during a press conference in Gaza City.

He alleged that only 8,500 aid trucks had entered Gaza since the ceasefire began, far short of the expected 12,000.

However, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher disputed these claims, stating on Thursday that 10,000 aid trucks carrying food, medicine, and shelter supplies had crossed into Gaza since the ceasefire took effect. “It has been a massive surge,” Fletcher said, contradicting Hamas’s assertions.

Appeals from Former Hostages

Meanwhile, Yarden Bibas, an Israeli hostage released in a previous exchange, made a direct plea to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the return of his wife and children, who remain in captivity.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu, I’m now addressing you with my own words… bring my family back, bring my friends back, bring everyone home,” Bibas said in his first public statement since being freed.

Hamas has previously claimed that Bibas’s wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, were killed in an Israeli airstrike, but the group has not provided evidence to substantiate this claim. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied their deaths.

Hamas Holds Funeral for Senior Commander

In a separate development, hundreds of people, including armed Hamas fighters, gathered in central Gaza on Friday for the funeral of senior Hamas military commander Marwan Issa.

Israel claimed to have killed Issa in an airstrike last March, but Hamas only confirmed his death last week. Issa was considered one of the key architects of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.

Trump’s Gaza Proposal Draws Criticism

The latest developments in the ceasefire come as former U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push a controversial plan to relocate Gaza’s Palestinian population and redevelop the territory into a luxury tourist destination.

Trump’s proposal, which envisions a U.S.-led takeover of Gaza to turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” has sparked widespread condemnation from Arab countries and international bodies, including the United Nations.

The plan has also added complexity to ongoing ceasefire negotiations, with Israeli mediators set to meet with Qatari officials later on Saturday to discuss the next phase of the truce.

Looking Ahead

As the ceasefire deal progresses, the focus remains on securing the safe return of all remaining hostages while ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

The coming days will be crucial in determining whether both sides will uphold their commitments or if further tensions will derail the fragile agreement.

For now, the families of Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy are awaiting the moment when they can finally embrace their loved ones once again.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members