(JTA) — As he stood on a Gaza stage on Saturday and said he was happy to return to his wife and two daughters, Eli Sharabi did not know they would not be waiting for him in Israel.
They were killed in their home on Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023 — the day that Sharabi was taken captive. He reportedly learned of their fate from relatives when he returned home, nearly 500 days later.
Sharabi was one of three male civilian hostages released by Hamas on Saturday.
Sharabi, 51, Ohad Ben-Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34, all ascended a stage in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah for a choreographed handover ceremony to the Red Cross, which ferried them into Israeli hands.
All looked gaunt and unsteady as they stood on the stage and were made to read messages to the crowd.
In addition to learning of the deaths of his immediate family, Sharabi found out that his brother Yossi Sharabi, who was also taken hostage on Oct. 7 from Be’eri, has been declared dead.
Sharabi was not the only one of the three freed hostages to return home to tragedy.
Levy’s wife was also killed on Oct. 7. It was unclear whether Levy, who was kidnapped at the Nova music festival, definitively knew of her fate before his release. A photo circulating after he was freed showed him embracing their 3-year-old son.
Related news: Or Levy’s brother spoke in S.F. to raise awareness of his plight
Ben-Ami was taken captive from Be’eri, as was his wife, who was released during a November 2023 ceasefire.
The scene of the emaciated men sparked shock in Israel and among activists for the hostages’ release. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar compared the newly freed men’s appearance to that of Holocaust survivors and cited the scene to deny the existence of famine in Gaza.
“The images that we saw today don’t lie,” he posted on social media. “The terrorists and Gazan residents look perfectly fine. The hostages look like Holocaust survivors. They are the only ones that have been starved!”
According to health officials quoted in Israeli media on Sunday, the three men are suffering from severe physical and psychological deterioration, including malnutrition, heart disorders, decreased muscle mass and prolonged infection.
The New York branch of the Hostages and Families Families Forum, which advocates for the captives, said the images made the case for redoubled efforts to secure the rest of the hostages’ release.
“The images from today’s release were painful to witness,” the group said. “The haunting faces of Ohad, Eli, and Or reveal the unimaginable toll of 491 days in Hamas captivity. These men have endured hell itself. Every moment in captivity is a moment too long. We call on the international community to ensure Phase 2 of the deal moves forward as promised—to reunite brothers, fathers, children, and parents. Lives must be saved now—there is no time to waste.”
The group was referring to the second stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, which is meant to begin on March 2 and during which all remaining living hostages are set to be released.
A total of 33 hostages — all but eight of them alive — are to be released during the deal’s first phase, which began on Jan. 19. Hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners have been released in exchange for the freed captives, including 183 in exchange for the three released on Saturday.
Talks are currently underway over whether and how the second stage will take place. In a statement on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is working to secure the hostages’ release but will not accept continued Hamas control of Gaza. He suggested that Saturday’s images pressed the case for the terror group’s defeat.
“We will do everything to return all of our hostages,” he said. “We will see to their safety. This is the directive that I gave to the delegation – say this to the mediators and demand it. But beyond this, President Trump agrees with me completely: We will do everything to return all of the hostages, but Hamas will not be there.”