After harrowing 490 days in captivity, hostages Ohad Ben Ami (56), Eli Sharabi (51), and Or Levy (34) are expected to be released tomorrow (Saturday) by Hamas.
The Israeli Health Ministry has announced that, following an initial medical evaluation, the returning hostages will be transported to hospitals to provide immediate medical care if necessary.
These are their stories.
Ohad Ben Ami
Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was abducted on the Black Saturday, October 7, alongside his wife Raz Ben Ami (57) from their home in Kibbutz Be'eri. The couple hid for a long time in shelter. Initially, the terrorists believed the house was empty and left, but later, they returned. Ohad texted his daughter, saying: "They're here. I hear gunfire."
In a widely recognized image, he is seen being led away by the terrorists wearing only a t-shirt and underwear. The two were held captive in Hamas tunnels since that horrific Saturday. Raz was released in November 2023, as part of the sixth phase of the hostage deal, and described the inhumane conditions endured by those held in Gaza.
On that dreadful Saturday, his daughter, Ela Ben Ami (23), called the media, reporting that her father had been kidnapped after recognizing his image in online photos. In the call, she pleaded, "I need help; they took my dad," adding, "I saw a picture of him in Gaza."
Since then, Ohad's three daughters have fought tirelessly for his return. His daughter Yuli wrote in a heartbreaking message: "Dad, when will I be able to talk to you instead of about you? When will you no longer be just a poster? When will I stop crying out of disappointment, pain, and longing? When will I finally be able to give you the hug I've been dreaming of? When?"
Kobi, Ohad's brother, spoke about their mother, who has been anxiously waiting for him:
"My mother is 78, undergoing dialysis. A month ago, due to everything happening, she had a pacemaker implanted, and her condition is deteriorating daily. I want my mother to see my brother alive, to see her son return from captivity. I don't know if she will."
Eli Sharabi
Eli, 52, was kidnapped from his home in Be'eri. His wife, Lian, and their daughters, Yahel (13) and Noya (16), were murdered. When he returns from the horrors of captivity, he will have to confront the devastating reality that his immediate family was wiped out.
At the same time Eli was taken, his brother, Yossi Sharabi (51), who also lived in Be'eri, was kidnapped. Hamas later released a video of Yossi, but in June, the Israel Defense Forces informed his family that he had been murdered and that his body remains in Gaza.
Eli's brother, Sharon Sharabi (48), has become the face of the family's struggle, fighting both for Eli, who was confirmed alive in captivity, and for Yossi's body to be returned for burial. "Beyond being brothers, we're best friends," Sharon said. "We haven't even had time to mourn because we're fighting for Eli's life."
Rotem, Sharon's daughter and Eli's niece, previously said: "What we've been going through is incredibly difficult. We are not the same family we were before. Something in our bond has cracked, and it will never be the same."
Or Levy
Or Levy, 34, and his wife, Einav, parents to Almog, who was two years old at the time, simply wanted to enjoy the Nova music festival in Re'im. But the terrorist attack turned their love story into a tragedy.
The couple arrived at the festival just nine minutes before the massacre began. When rockets started falling, they ran to a shelter. Or called his mother, Geula, and told her: "Mom, you don't want to know what's happening here." That was the last time his family heard his voice.
Ten minutes later, Hamas terrorists threw grenades and opened fire. Einav was murdered, and Or was taken into Gaza's tunnels.
Almog, Or's son, recently celebrated his third birthday without his parents. He is being raised by his grandparents, and as time passes, his memories of his mother and father continue to fade.
