Hostages Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami Freed from Hamas captivity

Three Israeli hostages were released Saturday in visibly frail condition after nearly 500 days in Hamas captivity, sparking outrage from Israeli officials over their deteriorated state.

Ohad Ben Ami, 56, Eli Sharabi, 52, and Or Levy, 34, were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza's Deir al-Balah as part of the fifth round of exchanges between Israel and Hamas. The men appeared notably thin and pale during the transfer, with Levy, released on humanitarian grounds, appearing particularly frail.

The Israeli government condemned the hostages' condition as "shocking" and said it "would not go unaddressed." The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described their appearance as "disturbing," while veteran Israeli negotiator Gershon Baskin said their condition reminded many of concentration camp survivors.

The release carries profound personal tragedy: Levy returns to a three-year-old son but without his wife Eynav, killed in the October 7 attack. Sharabi faces similar heartbreak - his wife and daughters were killed in the same attack, and his brother Yossi's body remains in Gaza. Ben Ami will reunite with his wife Raz, who was freed in a November 2023 exchange.

The exchange also saw Israel release 183 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas continues to hold 73 hostages from the October 7 attack, with eight of the 33 promised in this phase confirmed dead by the Israeli government.

The current ceasefire agreement is set to expire on March 1, with uncertainty looming over negotiations for its extension. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed deep reservations about the deal's second phase, which would require full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in exchange for remaining hostages.

CNN contributed to this article.