Relief in Israel as Newly Released Hostages Appear to Be in Better Shape

Hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to watch the televised handover of three hostages from Gaza, cheering, waving Israeli flags and shedding tears of joy — a big change from the tears of shock and anguish prompted by a similar release a week ago, when the hostages were clearly in poor physical condition.

“Three pieces have returned to my heart,” said Doron Zexer, a prominent advocate for the hostages, part of the crowd watching the ceremony in Gaza where the Red Cross received the three Israelis — Sasha Trupanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Iair Horn.

At last week’s release, the condition of the hostages set off shock waves across Israel, prompting many to compare them to Holocaust survivors.

That fueled pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to secure the release of the remaining hostages as quickly as possible, and contributed to an emotional week in Israel. Hamas initially threatened to delay handing over any more captives, nearly derailing a cease-fire agreement.

But Saturday’s release went ahead as planned. There appeared to be fewer people gathered in Hostages Square — a plaza in Tel Aviv where families of the captives and their supporters have gone each week to watch live broadcasts of the hostage releases — than on previous release days.