Day 491 - Emaciated, 3 released hostages to now learn families' fates

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute
audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and
the Jewish world.


Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host
Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.


Eli Sharabi, 52, Or Levy, 34, and Ohad Ben Ami, 56, are
back home in Israel after 491 days of captivity. Sharabi was
kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri when Hamas terrorists rampaged
through southern Israel on October 7, 2023. His wife and
daughters were murdered in their home’s safe room and he and his
brother Yossi were taken captive. Brother Yossi has since been
confirmed dead and Hamas is holding his body.


Or Levy, 34, was kidnapped from the Supernova rave near Kibbutz
Re’im on October 7. His wife Eynav was killed, and their now
three-year-old son Almog has been staying with his
grandparents since.


Ohad Ben Ami, was kidnapped from Be’eri. His wife Raz Ben Ami was
also abducted, and released as part of a week-long ceasefire in
November 2023.


We learn about initial health assessments and hear about the
ceremony this morning, in which Hamas forced the men to speak
onstage in Dir El Balak and thank the terror organization for
their "good treatment."


We discuss how the IDF is still operating in parts of the Gaza
Strip and what is meant to happen in the next two weeks of phase
1 of the already mediated deal, even as phase 2 is still in
process.


Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.
Herzi Halevi on Friday to reprimand the head of the Military
Intelligence Directorate, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, after he
reportedly warned during a military assessment meeting about
potential security risks relating to US President Donald Trump’s
plan to take over the Gaza Strip and displace its population.
Fabian weighs in on this incident and what it may signify. We
discusses what is happening on the ground in the West Bank as the
IDF continues its almost three-week ongoing intensive
counter-terrorism operation there.


The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on Hezbollah targets in
Lebanon on Thursday night, targeting weapons storage sites in the
Nabatieh area and the Beqaa Valley. Fabian updates us on the
extended truce in Lebanon and expected next steps ahead of the
February 18 deadline.

Please see today's ongoing live blog for more
updates.


Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple
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podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


For further reading:


Gaunt and frail, hostages Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad
Ben Ami freed after 16 months


Poll: 70% of Israelis support second phase of
hostage-ceasefire deal


Katz reprimands IDF intel chief for warning discourse on
Trump’s Gaza plan could prompt violence


IDF fighter jets hit Hezbollah weapons depots that Israel
says violated ceasefire


IMAGE: Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi, who has been held hostage by
Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023, is paraded by Hamas gunmen
before being handed over to the Red Cross in Deir al-Balah,
central Gaza Strip, February 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem
Hana)


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