Israeli president condemns hostage handover ceremony as ‘cynical’

Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the “cynical ceremony” staged as three hostages were freed on Saturday while at the same time expressing joy at their release.

“After the despicable and cynical ceremony you were forced to endure, we are happy that you are now being reunited with your families,” Herzog posted on X.

“Completing a hostage deal is a human, moral, and Jewish imperative. We will continue to do everything in our power to bring back all our sisters and brothers from captivity in Gaza – until the last one returns!” Herzog said.

The three men were led onto a stage, had to hold up “release documents” and were made to speak into a microphone while guarded by masked men wielding assault rifles and in front of a crowd of hundreds.

Herzog posted that Sagui Dekel-Chen would now meet his new daughter for the first time. Israeli media reported that the man reacted with joy to the news of her birth. Asked how he was, Dekel-Chen responded that we was well as he had a daughter.

Referring to the fact that Iair Horn’s brother was still being held as he was released, Herzog said: “These are not horror movie scripts – this is the reality of innocent civilians abducted by Hamas terrorists, and now being freed after 498 days in the tunnels and dungeons of Gaza.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office: “We have prepared for their return and will assist, along with their families, in their rehabilitation, following the long and agonizing days in captivity.”