Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 8, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Released hostages in hands of IDF in Gaza
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Close relatives of Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi cheer as they watch on a television screen his release along with two other hostages from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, at the family home in Tel Aviv on February 8, 2025.(Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)
Released hostages Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami are now in the hands of IDF troops in the Gaza Strip, the military says.
Hamas handed the three over to the Red Cross at a stage in Deir al-Balah, and they were then taken to Israeli forces inside Gaza.
The three released hostages will be brought out of the Strip to an army facility near the border community of Re’im for an initial checkup.
