Emaciated hostages anger Israelis, with freed Palestinians hospitalised

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In short:

The frail and gaunt appearance of three Israeli hostages released by Hamas on Saturday has fuelled anger across Israel, with some likening their appearance to that of Holocaust survivors.

183 Palestianian prisoners and detainees were freed by Israeli authorities on Saturday, with some immediately rushed to hospital for treatment.

What's next?

Negotiations on a lasting peace in Gaza, beyond the initial six week ceasefire due to lapse on March 2, are looming.

The emaciated appearance of three Israeli hostages freed by Hamas on Saturday has sparked anger across the community, with their condition likened to that of Holocaust survivors.

The men were handed over to the Red Cross at Deir al Balah in central Gaza, shortly before Israeli authorities freed 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees — with at least seven rushed to hospital.

The three Israelis, Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy were reported to be in good condition despite looking incredibly frail and gaunt after their 16-month ordeal.

Hamas fighters escort Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy to Red Cross workers in central Gaza. (AP: Abdel Kareem Hana)

An Israeli hospital official said on Saturday that after initial medical assessment of Mr Ami, it was "evident that Ohad returned in a severe nutritional state and had lost a significant amount of his body weight".

The three men are now being treated in two hospitals in central Israel.

Yael Frenkel Nir, director of the Sheba General Hospital and head of the medical response team for returning hostages, said the returnees were in a "more serious" condition than hostages freed by Hamas in the past.

"From the medical knowledge we accumulated, the long time in captivity is reflected by a significant deterioration in their condition," she said.

Emaciated hostages anger Israelis, with freed Palestinians hospitalised

Ohad Ben Ami has been described as being in a "severe nutritional state" after 16 months' of Hamas captivity.   (AP: Jehad Alshrafi)

Israeli authorities promised action against Hamas as a result, but did not specify what form that would take.

"Due to the harsh condition of the three hostages and the repeated violations of the Hamas terror groups, the prime minister has ordered that Israel will not gloss over this and will take action as needed," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Crowds in Hostage Square watching the handover on big screens gasped as they saw the men emerge from Hamas vehicles.

"Seeing them today looking like Holocaust survivors was really, really hard," onlooker Dania Takagi told the ABC.

"The horrors and the torture they went through … it shows on them," fellow supporter Ella Ahron said.

Emaciated hostages anger Israelis, with freed Palestinians hospitalised

Dania Takagi (L) and Ella Ahron likened the freed hostages to Holocaust survivors. (ABC News: Haidarr Jones)

Released Palestinians rushed to hospital

On Saturday, 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were freed from Israeli jails, shortly after the three Israeli hostages were handed over.

Celebratory gunfire could be heard in Gaza, where more than 100 were taken. Many had been detained during the war, but never convicted of any offences.

Forty-two were released to the West Bank, with local authorities saying at least seven needed to be rushed to hospital after getting off buses in Ramallah.

Israeli authorities have been repeatedly accused of severe neglect of Palestinians in Israeli jails, with diseases ripping through facilities and alleged beatings.

Emaciated hostages anger Israelis, with freed Palestinians hospitalised

A freed Palestinian prisoner is greeted in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. (Reuters: Stringer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Israel has denied the claims of mistreatment.

Among those released into the West Bank was Eyad Abu Shkaidem, who had been serving 18 life sentences for his role in planning suicide attacks against Israel in the early 2000s.

Some prisoners were also deported to Egypt.

Netanyahu slammed for prioritising DC trip

Twenty-one of the 33 Israeli hostages slated for release in the initial six-week ceasefire deal have now been brought home, and there are grave fears for the handovers that will come in the next few weeks.

Eight of those still be returned before March 2 are believed to be dead. Among them Shiri Bibas and her two young children Kfir and Ariel.

Trump, Netanyahu press conference key takeaways

Photo shows Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference.

Emaciated hostages anger Israelis, with freed Palestinians hospitalised

In a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump announced a surprising plan for the Middle East and the future of Gaza. These are the key takeaways.

The anxiety of the return of dead hostages, and the sight of the three frail men released on Saturday, is fuelling anger towards the Netanyahu government.

The prime minister is being criticised for prioritising a trip to the United States this week, meeting with President Donald Trump, over pushing ahead with talks to get more hostages home.

Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is still held by Hamas and is not among those to be released in the six-week ceasefire, took aim at Mr Netanyahu.

"It is worth mentioning that at the same time that Israeli citizens are being released from Hamas captivity [looking] like Holocaust survivors, Netanyahu is spending time in a luxury hotel suite in Washington, at the expense of the Israeli taxpayer, and the expense of the suffering of the hostages," he told Israeli media outlet Ynet.

An Israeli delegation is due to travel to the Qatari capital Doha this weekend to take part in those 'Phase Two' negotiations, almost a week after the talks were meant to ramp up.

ABC/AP

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