Ohad Ben Ami, Or Levy, Eli Sharabi are the three male Israeli hostages to be released in latest round of exchanges under ceasefire deal.
Hamas has released the names of three Israeli men it said it would released this Saturday, in what will be the fifth round of exchanges under the ongoing ceasefire deal.
Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy are expected to be released on the 491st day of their captivity, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed.
Scores of Palestinian prisoners are due to be released in return.
Ben Ami, 56, was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri. His wife Raz Ben Ami was also taken captive and was freed during a ceasefire in November, 2023.
Sharabi, age 52, was also taken from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri. His wife and daughters were murdered on October 7, according to the kibbutz. His brother Yossi Sharabi, who was taken captive, died in Gaza, where his body remains, according to the Israeli military.
Or Levy, age 34, was attending the Nova music festival on October 7 when he was kidnapped. His wife Eynav was murdered in the attack.
Since the ceasefire went into effect on January 19, Hamas and its allies have released 18 hostages held in Gaza – including five Thai citizens released outside the parameters of the agreement. In exchange, the Israeli government has released 583 Palestinians held in detention – some serving life sentences for serious offenses – but also a significant number of children held without public charge or trial.
Friday’s announcement came nearly three hours after it was expected, after Hamas on Friday accused the Israeli government of “continued procrastination and hesitation in implementing the humanitarian protocol of the agreement.”
In a statement, group said that “the pledges stipulated in the agreement have not been implemented in the specified manner, which exacerbates the suffering” of Palestinians in Gaza.
The United Nations says that “challenges continue in bringing into Gaza some critical humanitarian supplies,” though noted that prices have declined and the distribution of humanitarian supplies within Gaza has become easier, following the withdrawal of the Israeli military from urban areas.
Hamas said Friday that it expects Israel on Saturday to release 183 Palestinians held in prison in exchange for the three Israelis.
Eighteen of the prisoners are serving life sentences, 54 have lesser sentences, and 111 were detained in the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023, the group said in a statement. The charges against the 111 were not clear.
Israel is yet to confirm the numbers and names of Palestinian prisoners who are expected to be released on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyau is trying out of “utter desperation” to disrupt the current indirect nuclear negotiations process between Iran and the United States.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning on Thursday, stating that Yemen's Houthi rebels will face severe retaliation if they continue launching attacks on Israel. He emphasized that the Israeli Defence Forces are fully prepared to respond to any threat.
Representatives from Türkiye and Israel are meeting in Azerbaijan's capital today for informal negotiations aimed at de-escalating tensions over activities in Syria and preventing potential conflict.
Israel launched airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah province after a Houthi missile landed near Tel Aviv, marking a sharp escalation in cross-regional hostilities.
The Israeli military plans to mobilize tens of thousands of reservists as it prepares to launch a renewed offensive in Gaza and shift forces across multiple fronts.
A new rose has been named after Catherine, Princess of Wales, to promote the healing benefits of nature.
A fragment of the Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482, launched in 1972, is expected to crash back to Earth between 9 and 10 May, according to space agencies monitoring its re-entry.
FIFA has approved a major expansion of the Women’s World Cup, increasing the number of participating teams to 48 starting from the 2031 edition.
Mexico is suing Google for disregarding repeated requests to stop referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on Google Maps.
Explosions were heard in Rawalpindi and Islamabad around 2:30 a.m. local time as a ballistic missile attack targeting Nur Khan Airbase was intercepted, according to Pakistani security sources.
India has fired a series of missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, in what it has described as “Operation Sindoor”
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church, as Cardinal Robert Prevost is named pope.
Discover every major VE Day 80 event in Britain, 5‑8 May 2025—from London’s parade and fly‑past to street parties, concerts and museum exhibitions.
Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has announced it will no longer sell goods directly from China to U.S. customers, shifting instead to U.S.-based sellers amid the closure of a long-criticized customs loophole.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyau is trying out of “utter desperation” to disrupt the current indirect nuclear negotiations process between Iran and the United States.
Kazakhstan and Pakistan signed a series of trade and transit agreements during a high-level business forum in Karachi, paving the way for expanded commercial cooperation and long-term logistics development between the two countries.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are now conducting direct peace talks without Russian mediation, according to Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan. He told Armenian media that Moscow’s mediating role has ended and that direct dialogue is now seen as more effective.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confidently announced that there will be no war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing a shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
Armenia has officially approved joining the Ashgabat Agreement, aiming to enhance its regional transit role and secure broader access to international markets through a key transport and transit corridor spanning Central and South Asia.
A new rose has been named after Catherine, Princess of Wales, to promote the healing benefits of nature.
A fragment of the Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482, launched in 1972, is expected to crash back to Earth between 9 and 10 May, according to space agencies monitoring its re-entry.
FIFA has approved a major expansion of the Women’s World Cup, increasing the number of participating teams to 48 starting from the 2031 edition.
Mexico is suing Google for disregarding repeated requests to stop referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on Google Maps.
Explosions were heard in Rawalpindi and Islamabad around 2:30 a.m. local time as a ballistic missile attack targeting Nur Khan Airbase was intercepted, according to Pakistani security sources.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment