Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog criticized the "cynical ceremony" organized for the release of three Israeli hostages on Saturday, but at the same time expressed his joy at their return to their families, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"After the shameful and cynical ceremony you were forced to endure, we are happy that you are now reunited with your families," Herzog wrote on the social network X.
The president stressed that completing the hostage deal was a "human, moral and Jewish imperative", promising that Israel would continue its efforts to return all Israeli prisoners.
Disputed prisoner exchange
The three freed Israelis – Yair Horn, Sagi Dekel-Hen and Alexander (Sasha) Trufanov – were presented to a crowd, forced to hold “release documents“ and speak into a microphone while being guarded by masked men with machine guns.
Their families expressed relief and joy at their return. Relatives of 36-year-old Sagi Dekel-Hen said he would finally be able to see his two older daughters, and his youngest - for the first time since she was born during his captivity.
Photos published in Israeli media showed relief on the faces of relatives of Yair Horn, who according to relatives lost half his weight during his captivity.
Release of Palestinian prisoners
Meanwhile, Israel has released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of the exchange, Palestinian officials said.
Four busloads of prisoners have arrived in Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Meanwhile, eight prisoners were taken to the West Bank, where they were greeted by jubilant relatives.
A total of 369 Palestinians were to be released, including 333 arrested after the attacks on Israel on October 7, as well as 36 from the West Bank and East Jerusalem sentenced to life in prison.
Due to the severity of their crimes, some of the prisoners will not be able to return home and will instead be sent abroad, according to the agreement.
Symbolism and political messages
According to the "Times of Israel", the freed Palestinian prisoners were wearing white T-shirts with the Star of David and the words "We will not forget and we will forgive" in Arabic.
This is seen as a response to Hamas's public display of Israeli hostages before their release.
The prisoner exchange remains a sensitive and controversial issue, maintaining tension between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as the parties negotiate the future of the conflict.