FAMILIES of Israel’s hostages were braced for the harrowing first sight of their loved ones tonight — fearing they might be unrecognisable after two years of Hamas captivity.
Medics were on standby awaiting the arrival of the 20 men who have survived physical and psychological torture.
Hamas published a video of hostage Evyatar David digging his own grave
GettyHamas terrorists in Gaza City after Donald Trump’s 20-point deal[/caption]
Some have lost up to half their body weight, been partly blinded or bear the scars of living in chains in the terror group’s underground lair.
The Red Cross is expecting a handover within hours, amid reports they could be released by 4am tomorrow, UK time.
US President Donald Trump’s 20-point deal demands all living hostages and the 28 who are dead be handed over by Monday morning.
Mr Trump is flying to Israel and is thought to be keen to meet freed captives before heading to Egypt for the deal signing ceremony.
PM Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he would be there.
Hope tinged with tension filled the air in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square yesterday as thousands joined a vigil.
But anxious families of those being released from the squalid terror tunnels of Gaza have been warned they may greet tragic shadows of their loved-ones’ old selves.
Evyatar David, 24, who was snatched in the Nova Music Festival attack on October 7, 2023, had been “full of life”.
But his brother, Ilay, said medical experts who reviewed images of Evyatar in Hamas videos had concluded he had lost nearly half his body weight.
Pianist Alon Ohel, 24, also taken near Nova, will come back partly blind after a Hamas bomb exploded in his face as he was grabbed.
Three skeletal men released in February who had been with Alon revealed they had all been kept in chains.
And twin brothers Gali Berman and Ziv Berman, 28, were taken hostage at Kfar Aza kibbutz.
Older brother Liran said: “We had our lives before October 7 and now we don’t know what will happen. Even if my brothers are released, it will leave lifelong scars.”
It comes as BBC sources claim Hamas has put 7,000 of its security forces on the streets to police Gaza.
Evyatar before he was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on 7 October 2023Reuters Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
