Families react with anguish to see condition of released hostages

Many family members of the three released hostages burst into tears as they see their loved ones paraded on a Hamas stage before their release.

The three appear very frail, pale and gaunt.

Michal Cohen, the mother of Ohad Ben Ami, says she was devastated to see her son look so thin and unwell.

“He looks terrible. He is 57, but he looks ten years older. It is so sad for me to see him like this,” she tells Channel 12 news.

Tal Levy, brother of returning hostage Or Levy, tells Channel 12 that his brother “looks very, very thin, and it’s indeed very difficult to see him,” but “he’s coming back and he’ll recover.”

He stresses that “today more than ever: all the hostages need to come back… we must see this deal through.”

Or’s 3-year-old son Almog, whose mother was murdered on October 7, 2023, is keenly awaiting his father’s return, and has drawn pictures to greet Tal says.

“I told him in tears that his father is coming back. He asked why I was crying, and I said: it’s tears of excitement this time.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urges the release of the remainder of Israeli hostages, following the handover of three.

“The disturbing images from the release of Ohad, Eli and Or serve as yet another stark and painful evidence that leaves no room for doubt — there is no time to waste for the hostages!” reads the statement.