Hamas names three Israeli hostages it says it will release on Saturday

Hamas has released the names of three Israeli hostages it says it will release on Saturday in the fifth such swap of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

The hostages are Eli Sharabi, Ohad ben Ami and Or Levy, Hamas armed wing spokesperson Abu Obeida said in a Telegram post.

In return for the captives' release, Hamas said it expects 183 Palestinian prisoners to be released.

Both Mr Ami and Mr Sharabi were taken from Kibbutz Be'eri during the 7 October attack. The cross-border attack saw around 1,200 Israelis killed and around 250 people taken hostage.

Mr Levy was abducted from the Nova music festival.

Of the Palestinian prisoners being freed, 18 have been serving life sentences, 54 were serving long sentences and the vast majority, 111, were detained in the Gaza Strip during the war.

Eli Sharabi

Mr Sharabi's wife Lianne Sharabi was born in Bristol.

According to a statement from his lawyer, she, along with their children, 16-year-old Noiya and 13-year-old Yahel, were killed in the 7 October attack.

His brother was also said to have died while a hostage.

In a statement after news he would be released was announced, Mr Sharabi's lawyer said: "The Sharabi family has already lost too much,".

It added: "It is long past time to bring Eli home."

Or Levy

Some of Mr Levy's family previously spoke about his kidnapping and the death of his sister-in-law Einav.

Speaking of Mr Levy missing another Hanukkah, Michael Levy told Sky News' Yousra Elbagir: "I have three little girls but it won't be the same. Hanukkah is a happy holiday - you light candles, you sing and eat all sorts of things but for us it is not a real holiday without Or."

Michael Levy is the eldest of his three brothers and Mr Levy is the youngest.

Ohad ben Ami

Ella Ben Ami previously spoke to Sky News as well about missing her dad Mr Ami, as she pleaded for his release.

"On the eve of Christmas, on the 24 December, it will be his birthday, and I don't want to celebrate it without him," she told Sky News.

Ms Ami was previously one of the first to tell the world what happened on 7 October, calling an Israeli TV channel while hiding.

Row over aid access

Earlier on Friday, Hamas accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire accord and held off announcing the names of the Israeli hostages until the deadline had passed.

The militant group claimed Israel delayed the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying food and other humanitarian supplies and held back all but a fraction of the tents and mobile homes needed to provide people shelter in the devastated enclave.

"This demonstrates clear manipulation of relief and shelter priorities," Hamas said in a statement.

COGAT, the Israeli military agency that is overseeing the aid deliveries into Gaza, denied the accusation.

It added Israel would "not tolerate violations by Hamas".

The claims and counter-claims highlight the fragility and uncertainty of the ceasefire.

This is only heightened by US President Donald Trump recently saying the US could take over Gaza and move the Palestinian population out.

Israel has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced the majority of the strip's population.

Read more:
What's in the ceasefire deal?
The Israel-Hamas war in numbers

Phase one

So far, 13 hostages of the 33 older men, women and children set to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire have returned to Israel.

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released in exchange, often returning to large crowds.

Five Thai hostages have also been released.

Work on the second stage of the agreement, aimed at the release of around 60 male hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, has begun.

An Israeli negotiating team was expected to fly to Doha on Saturday, according to media reports.

(c) Sky News 2025: Hamas names three Israeli hostages it says it will release on Saturday