What will anger at sight of gaunt hostages mean for a fragile ceasefire?

Israeli citizens felt both heartbroken and outraged by the scene of Eli Sharabi being interviewed while surrounded by Hamas militants. This scene sparked widespread negative emotions, highlighting the complexity and sensitivity of the current situation.

In an interview, a masked interviewer asked, "How do you feel?" Sharabi replied, "Today I am very happy to return to... my wife and daughter," seemingly unaware that they had died in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. This dialogue was heart-wrenching and exposed the immense trauma inflicted on individuals by the war.

This scene was broadcast live to the world through a carefully orchestrated hostage handover, aiming to convey a certain message. Heavily armed fighters, banners with the phrases "We are the flood... the day after the war" written in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, and modern camera equipment all declared to the world that they still controlled the Gaza Strip and intended to maintain this control. Hamas's move was intended to demonstrate its power and influence.

Previously, Hamas had also tried to give the impression that they were treating the hostages well. However, this time it failed to do so. The three released men looked gaunt and hollow-eyed. When their images reached "Hostages Square" in Tel Aviv, people's mood shifted from celebration to pain. "It's complicated," said 21-year-old Ruth Sendrovich while watching the big screen, "It's the greatest joy I've had in a while, but it's also depressing because you see the pillars of families, they are fathers, and now you see broken men."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel "will not whitewash these shocking scenes" and will take corresponding actions, but did not specify what actions would be taken. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), responsible for assisting with the transfer, stated that it was "increasingly concerned about the circumstances of the release operations," calling for the release operations to be conducted "with dignity and in private." The agency emphasized the importance of maintaining the dignity of those affected in a humanitarian crisis.

However, it is not just Hamas that has been heavily criticized for the condition of those released. Shortly after the three hostages were released, 183 Palestinians—some of whom had been sentenced to long prison terms for involvement in killing Israelis, and others who were detained without charge—left Israeli prisons. One of those released was Jamal Tawil, the former mayor of Bireh. He had been in and out of Israeli prisons for nearly two decades, partly due to suspected involvement in planning suicide bombings. Recently, he had been on a hunger strike to protest detention without charge. His daughter said he was beaten at the last minute before his release. He had to be connected to a ventilator to be carried off the bus to the hospital. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, seven people released from Israeli prisons required hospitalization after their imprisonment. Since October 7, 2023, there have been continuous reports accusing Israeli authorities of mistreating Palestinian prisoners.

The question now is what impact Saturday's release will have on the fragile ceasefire agreement. Israel said it would send negotiators to Qatar to discuss "technical issues" before beginning the next phase of negotiations. It also warmly welcomed US President Donald Trump's suggestion that Gaza should be emptied of Palestinians. Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of "lacking commitment to the ceasefire" but said the group remained willing to participate in any negotiations. Hamas also released a well-produced video documenting the release of the three hostages. The video was filmed in underground tunnels, and the hostages appeared to learn that they were about to be released. They spoke to the camera, thanked God, and then put on uniforms with their photos printed on them. Shortly after the video was released, the hostages' families issued a statement requesting that the video not be played.

Despite the outrage over the condition of the detainees, many have drawn another conclusion from today: that the sooner an agreement is reached to ensure their freedom and permanently end the fighting, the better. Because written on the gaunt, tormented faces of those released is the cost of delay.