Ahead of his speech at Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) conference in Washington DC, US President Donald Trump commented on Saturday’s hostage releases.
“We had the hostages given back today,” he said to reporters ahead of his address.
“It’s disgraceful what’s going on there. They’re not in great shape, but we’ve also seen them in worse shape. But the hostages, the six hostages were delivered by Hamas.
“What a terrible situation it is.”
Netanyahu calls hostage freed after 10 years
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called one of the freed hostages this evening – Avera Mengistu.
Mengistu, 39, is Ethiopian-Israeli, and had been held in Gaza since he arrived there in 2014.
According to Netanyahu’s office, he told him: “I am moved and I embrace you. The entire people of Israel is moved along with me and embraces you today.”
The prime minister thanked him and his family for not giving up hope – and expressed his sorrow for the time he spent in captivity.
He also promised to commit to his rehabilitation.
Medics say two hostages’ health issues are ‘not only physical’
Earlier we heard from officials at the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva where four of the freed Israeli hostages are being treated.
We have now had an update from another hospital – the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre – where staff have confirmed Hisham al Sayed, 36, and Avera Mengistu, 38, are being looked after.
Professor Gil Fire, medical associate to the director-general of the hospital, said in a media statement: “According to our initial examinations, that we have already conducted, both Hisham and Avera arrived in overall good physical condition, which has already allowed them to meet with their families after such a prolonged and harrowing wait.
“We will continue to assess the condition of Hisham and Avera in the coming days and beyond, a situation that embodies, as mentioned, great complexity, not only physical.”
Al Sayed was not released by Hamas in a public ceremony like the others, with reports speculating on his mental health.
The condition of the other four released hostages is not being released for privacy reasons, the Beilinson Hospital said earlier.
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