Horror swept through the crowd of onlookers in Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square” on Saturday as the three emaciated faces of hostages freed by Hamas in Gaza appeared on screen.
Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy appeared to the crowds of supporters, on the huge display in the square, flanked by Hamas fighters during the fifth such release of hostages as part of an ongoing ceasefire deal for Gaza.
It was the first time, however, since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19 that hostages released by Hamas appeared so physically marked by their ordeal.
The hundreds of people who flocked to the square, which has become the centre of the national movement supporting hostages and their families, stared in dismay at the three men.
Moments earlier, a more cheerful atmosphere had prevailed, with regular outbreaks of applause as the crowd watched preparations for the hostage release being broadcast on Israeli television.
But in the city on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Deir el-Balah were the captives were freed, several onlookers put their hands to their mouths while others shook their heads in disbelief.
The sober mood in the crowd was tempered, however, by the joy of seeing those released on their way back to Israel.
A woman who had been crying began to smile as the three Israelis were finally handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
A man who had briefly lowered his sign raised it again above his head.
“Sorry it took so long, welcome home,” the sign read.
Resilience
As with previous hostages releases, the square was full of people carrying portraits of those still held in Gaza.
On Or Levy’s picture, his age at the time of his capture, 33, had been crossed out. His 34th birthday passed in captivity.
Levy was seized at the Nova music festival, which he attended with his wife Einav Levy, who was shot dead in the attack. Their three-year-old son, Almog, has been living with his grandparents ever since.
Among onlookers in the crowd, the stories of the hostages are well known.
Sharabi’s wife and two daughters were killed in their home in kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
His brother Yossi was also taken hostage in the assault and later died in captivity, the Israeli military said in early 2024.
The personal stories of other hostages released in recent exchanges added to the emotion among supporters in Tel Aviv.
On Friday, former hostage Yarden Bibas, who was freed last week from Gaza, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring back his wife and two children from the Palestinian territory.
Hamas has previously declared that Shiri Bibas and the two boys, Ariel and Kfir, had been killed in an Israeli air strike in November 2023, but Israel has not confirmed their deaths.
Among the fluorescent T-shirts emblazoned with stickers saying “you are not alone” and “bring them all home”, the faces of the young Bibas brothers — whose fifth and second birthdays fell in captivity — could also be seen.
On Israeli flags held by the crowd, the Star of David is entwined with the yellow ribbon that has come to symbolise the movement in support of the hostages, which has brought tens of thousands of people onto the country’s streets on a regular basis.
Shortly after the Israeli army announced it had taken charge of the three men released on Saturday, a group of women began to dance and sing in front of the giant screen.
