Hamas Releases Three Israeli Hostages

CGTN Europe

Hamas released Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34. They appeared in worse condition than the 18 hostages freed earlier in the ceasefire. Our correspondent Jonathan Regev reported from Tel Aviv.  #Gaza #Israel #Hamas #Hostages #Ceasefire

Transcript

00:00All of the people released previously came out in what seemed to be a relatively good physical condition.

00:05It was not the case this time.

00:07All three men coming out very weak, very pale, very thin.

00:12And it reminded here, people here spoke of images that we only saw in the mid-1940s in Europe.

00:18That's the very grim reminder that this brought to everyone's minds in Israel.

00:25It should be said that the three hostages were already flown to hospitals in the center of the country.

00:31They already look a little bit better once they're with their families

00:35and they're waving from the cars and the helicopters that took them.

00:39But clearly, the state in which they came out was a shock to Israelis.

00:45These releases that come every Saturday are always a very festive occasion, happy occasions.

00:51This too is a happy occasion, but along with the happiness came the shock.

00:55It was seen practically in every home watching the release today.

01:01There was the joy in seeing the hostages.

01:04And as soon as the happiness came, came also the shock of seeing them in their condition.

01:10And I think it states to the decision-makers that every delay,

01:16every delay in a hostage release could be very expensive as the hostages who are still alive

01:24will not survive much longer if these are the conditions that they come out in.

01:30Just a thought on perhaps what the negotiations over the second phase might hold.

01:38Where are we on that?

01:42Yes, and these two things actually coincide

01:45because the second stage is a controversial thing here in Israel.

01:49While the idea, the thought of bringing all of the hostages is extremely important,

01:54not everyone is happy with the idea of withdrawing the Israeli army altogether from Gaza

02:00and basically announcing the end of the war.

02:03But I think the images that we saw today could perhaps add a bit more pressure on the government

02:09to advance to that second stage which would bring all of the hostages back

02:14even with a very expensive price that Israel would have to pay.

02:18It is clear that at the moment there are still 76 hostages left.

02:23Officially we're speaking of 41 people alive, but I think the real number stands at roughly 30 or so.

02:30If you want to bring those 30 or so people alive, it has to happen and it has to happen fast.

02:35Judging by the images we've seen today, those in Gaza will not survive much longer.

02:42And therefore whatever happens needs to happen fast.

02:46Israel said that once today's hostage release will be over, a delegation will be sent to Qatar.

02:52So we should expect that.

02:53Not a high level delegation, not the heads of the Israeli security agency or the Mossad,

02:58the Israeli secret service, but some kind of a delegation preparing perhaps the initial talks on the second stage.

03:05There will be a lot of pressure on the government.

03:08I think we can expect the Saturday protest taking place tonight to be larger, louder,

03:14following the images that we've seen today.

03:16And it should have some effect on the pressure on the government to head for a second stage.

03:22Prime Minister Netanyahu in Washington perhaps wanted to extend the first stage.

03:27Whatever has to happen to bring back hostages and bring them back fast has to happen

03:32because what the Israeli public is now feeling is that there's not a lot of time remaining for those who are still in Gaza.

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