Fifth prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas: three Israeli hostages freed, 183 Palestinian prisoners released

The complex negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue with the Fifth prisoner exchange. Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy, Israeli citizens detained for over 16 months in Gaza, were released by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross after a public ceremony.

In parallel, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners, marking a new chapter in this delicate balance of humanitarian exchanges.

During the release ceremony in Deir Al-Balah, the three Israelis appeared visibly distressed, flanked by armed and masked militiamen. Their release documents were signed by a Red Cross official and a Hamas representative. The images of the ceremony have provoked strong reactions at an international level, in particular regarding the state of health of the Israeli prisoners.

Netanyahu: “Shocking images”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the images of the release “shocking”, stressing that they will not go unnoticed. Even Israeli President Isaac Herzog commented harshly, speaking of “crime against humanity” and calling on the international community to take a stand.

Poor health conditions

According to initial medical reports, the physical conditions of the three hostages were found to be extremely precarious. Eli Sharabi and Or Levy lost approximately 20 kilos each during their captivity. The testimony of Or Levy, who He said he remained barefoot for almost 500 days and was able to take his first shower only after months, he describes the harsh conditions they were subjected to. Food was scarce: sometimes they received only a quarter of a pita a day, and access to toilets was limited to twice a day. Hagar Mizrahi, an official from the Israeli Ministry of Health, confirmed that the three released hostages suffer from severe malnutrition.

Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv, where the three were transferred, confirmed that their health conditions are "gravi” and require urgent medical attention. Yael Frenkel Nir, director of the hospital, said that this is the smost critical situation ever encountered among the hostages released in this context.

Return of Palestinian Prisoners to Gaza

Simultaneously, More than a hundred Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel have returned to Gaza, greeted by cheering crowds. Among them, many found their homes destroyed and have had to set up tents to temporarily shelter in. The Red Cross has called for future prisoner exchanges to be more private, avoiding public ceremonies.

Mohammed, one of the released prisoners, told the press: “During the months of detention we were completely cut off from the world. Returning to Gaza and seeing this destruction was a shock.. "

UN: Rebuilding Gaza Without Displacement Possible

Meanwhile, the rUN Special Rapporteur Balakrishnan Rajagopal said that it is possible to start the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip without forcing the Palestinian population into further displacement. About 70% of Gaza's buildings have been destroyed, but reconstruction could take place over a period of 5-10 years.

The new Lebanese government

Still in the Middle Eastern context, the formation of the new Lebanese government has been announced, led by Nawaf Salam, after weeks of negotiations. The United Nations has described the event as the beginning of a “new and promising chapter” for Lebanon.

The outlook for the coming weeks

This fifth prisoner exchange represents an important step, but non resolves the deep tensions between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli public is demanding answers about how it was possible that citizens were kidnapped on Israeli soil and taken to Gaza. The October Council, which represents the families of the hostages, has called for a state commission of inquiry to clarify the events.

While the world is watching carefully how the situation unfolds, there remains hope that the ceasefire agreements can hold, allowing for a future of peace and stability.