Hostage release sparks outrage, Israel withdraws from more of Gaza

February 09, 2025

Or Levy, Eli Sharabi, and Ohad Ben Ami, hostages held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack, are released by Hamas militants as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel on Feb. 8, 2025.

REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

Hamas released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners. But the return of Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy sparked outrage in Israel due to their severely malnourished state.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly shocked by their condition and vowed to bring the remaining hostages home. “Due to the harsh condition of the three hostages and the repeated violations of the Hamas terror groups,” his office said in a statement, “the prime minister has ordered that Israel will not gloss over this and will take action as needed.” Hamas, meanwhile, says it won’t release more hostages until Israel withdraws completely from Gaza.

What’s next? Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel withdrew from Gaza’s Netzarim corridor on Sunday, allowing thousands of displaced Palestinians to return north. But military operations continue: Israeli forces on Sunday killed three Palestinians in Gaza and two women in the West Bank, one of whom was pregnant, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

And as nations continue to reject US President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to relocate Gaza’s inhabitants to other parts of the Middle East, Netanyahu suggested that a Palestinian state could be established in Saudi Arabia. While the Israeli PM reportedly appeared to be joking, Riyadh immediately repudiated the comments. Qatar, which is set to mediate the next round of the ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel this week, also condemned the remarks.

60% of Germans believe energy transition is necessary – and they want to be more involved in decision-making

BMW Foundation

The energy transition is one of society’s biggest challenges – especially for Europe’s largest economy – according to a survey commissioned by the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and undertaken by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research. Sixty percent of those polled believe the energy transition is necessary but have doubts about how it is being implemented. A whopping 63% would like to be more involved in energy-transition decisions affecting their region. The findings strongly suggest that it’s essential to get the public more involved in energy policymaking – to help build a future energy policy that leads to both economic prosperity and social cohesion. Read the full study “Attitudes Toward the Energy Transition” here.

G7 foreign ministers meet ahead of June summit. Could be awkward.

From left, British Foreign Minister David Lammy, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pose for a photo during the G7 foreign ministers meeting in La Malbaie, Charlevoix, Quebec, on March 13, 2025.

SAUL LOEB/Pool via REUTERS

Ahead of the 50th G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this summer, foreign ministers from member countries are meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec, this week. Canada, as the current president of the G7, is hosting the confab, which may be a tad … awkward.

Canada’s new PM is a technocratic banker who’s never been elected – that might help him

Canadian Liberal Party leader Mark Carney faces Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in this composite, with Donald Trump hovering in the background.

Jess Frampton

Liberal Party leader Mark Carney’s previous, purported liabilities – being a staid, low-key, globalist technocrat who’s never been elected – may be seen as strengths as he prepares to call a snap election in the coming days. David Moscrop explains why.

With a ceasefire on the table, Putin tells his troops to keep fighting

Russia's President Vladimir Putin addresses commanders as he visits a control center of the Russian armed forces in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in the Kursk region, Russia, on March 12, 2025.

Russian Pool/Reuters TV via Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise battlefield visit on Wednesday, telling troops in the Kursk region of Russia to “completely destroy” the Ukrainian forces that have occupied parts of the area for nearly seven months.

Hostage release sparks outrage, Israel withdraws from more of Gaza

GZEROMEDIA

More from GZERO Media

60% of Germans believe energy transition is necessary – and they want to be more involved in decision-making

You vs. the News: GZERO’s Weekly News Quiz

Have you stayed atop GZERO’s news coverage this week? Here’s your chance to prove it.

Will there be a government shutdown?

The battle over Department of Education cuts intensifies

The US Department of Education, which Donald Trump has sought to dismantle, is laying off roughly half of its 4,100-strong workforce. But attorneys general in Democratic states are pushing back.

The tariff waltz continues as everyone is set to lose

US tariffs and the resulting counter-tariffs threaten to disrupt supply chains, drive profits down for manufacturers, lead to job losses, and raise prices for consumers on both sides of the border.

GZEROMEDIA

G7 foreign ministers meet ahead of June summit. Could be awkward.

Ahead of the 50th G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this summer, foreign ministers from member countries are meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec, this week. Canada, as the current president of the G7, is hosting the confab, which may be a tad … awkward.

Hard Numbers: Trade war whips horse industry, Canada cuts rates, Egg prices keep climbing, US scraps river talks, Wisconsin tot reports ice cream emergency

Graphic Truth: The North American gun divide

There are 120 guns per 100 people in the US – yes, more than one per person – compared to 35 per 100 people in Canada.

Canada’s new PM is a technocratic banker who’s never been elected – that might help him

Liberal Party leader Mark Carney’s previous, purported liabilities – being a staid, low-key, globalist technocrat who’s never been elected – may be seen as strengths as he prepares to call a snap election in the coming days. David Moscrop explains why.

With a ceasefire on the table, Putin tells his troops to keep fighting

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise battlefield visit on Wednesday, telling troops in the Kursk region of Russia to “completely destroy” the Ukrainian forces that have occupied parts of the area for nearly seven months.

Hostage release sparks outrage, Israel withdraws from more of Gaza

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

Have you stayed atop GZERO’s news coverage this week? Here’s your chance to prove it.

The US Department of Education, which Donald Trump has sought to dismantle, is laying off roughly half of its 4,100-strong workforce. But attorneys general in Democratic states are pushing back.

US tariffs and the resulting counter-tariffs threaten to disrupt supply chains, drive profits down for manufacturers, lead to job losses, and raise prices for consumers on both sides of the border.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

Ahead of the 50th G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this summer, foreign ministers from member countries are meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec, this week. Canada, as the current president of the G7, is hosting the confab, which may be a tad … awkward.

There are 120 guns per 100 people in the US – yes, more than one per person – compared to 35 per 100 people in Canada.

Liberal Party leader Mark Carney’s previous, purported liabilities – being a staid, low-key, globalist technocrat who’s never been elected – may be seen as strengths as he prepares to call a snap election in the coming days. David Moscrop explains why.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise battlefield visit on Wednesday, telling troops in the Kursk region of Russia to “completely destroy” the Ukrainian forces that have occupied parts of the area for nearly seven months.