Israel says one of the hostages released in the first phase is Levy, 34, who was attending the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, with his wife Annav.
The couple, whose son Al Mog is now three, fled to a roadside bomb shelter after Hamas gunmen attacked. Enaw was either killed inside the shelter or kidnapped and taken back to Gaza.
At Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square over the weekend, Ya’s brother Michael told the BBC that waiting to hear about the conditions of the remaining 26 hostages was like “a reality invented by Satan and an evil reality.” A part of the show of favor that Hamas is enjoying”.
He also said that he had received no indication of when he would be freed or if he would be freed and described what he described as “the deadline for this nightmare”.
Michael also said he feared Hamas could delay his brother’s release yet.
“We can’t just sit back and hope for the best. We have to keep going. And until he’s here, I won’t believe it’s actually happened.”
On Saturday, after the release of four female Israeli soldiers in the second ceasefire exchange, an Israeli army spokesman said it was “extremely concerned” about the welfare of the three hostages. Two, and Ariel, five.
Hamas claimed in November 2023 that he had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. However, the Israeli military has not confirmed their deaths and the Israeli government has insisted that they were among the 33 hostages released in the first phase.
Negotiations for the second phase – which should see the remaining hostages released in exchange for more prisoners, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and the “restoration of a lasting calm” – are due to begin on February 4.
The third and final phase will involve the reconstruction of Gaza, which could take years, and the return of the bodies of any remaining hostages.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is demanding that the Israeli government implement all three steps and ensure the return of every hostage.
“We are not complete without all of them. Our nation needs everyone at home. Down to the last hostage,” she said.
Meanwhile, the deputy chief of the Israeli army’s medical corps said some of the newly released hostages had spent “full time in the tunnels underground” in recent months.
“Some of them were alone the whole time they were there,” said Col. Dr. Avi Banoff, according to Reuters news agency. “Those who said they were together were in better shape.”
He added that the hostages had said their treatment had improved in the days leading up to their release, when they were allowed to shower, change their clothes and get better food.
