CNN WORLD Jeremy Diamond and Rob Picheta, February 11 2025
When three Israeli hostages emerged at the weekend, emaciated and gaunt after 16 months in Hamas captivity, Israelis we're shocked by the images.
But inside the Israeli government, top officials we're not surprised.
The Israeli government has had intelligence for months indicating that many of the remaining living hostages are in poor health, two Israeli officials tell CNN. It wasn't a surprise for us, one Israeli official said.
And many of the remaining Israeli hostages are also believed to be in even worse condition, the officials said. From this moment onward, we expect worse scenes, a second Israeli official said.
Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami we're paraded by Hamas militants during a handover ceremony on Saturday, the three latest Israeli hostages to be freed by the militant group since the implementation of the ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas.
The three men appeared drastically thinner than before their release, and their relatives subsequently raised concerns about their physical and mental treatment during their captivity.
Hamas has sincepostponed the next hostage releasescheduled to take place in Gaza on Saturday until further notice, accusing Israel of breaking the ceasefire deal. This has heightened fears surrounding the status and wellbeing of the dozens of Israelis still being held in the enclave.
Israel's intelligence indicates that Hamas has been treating male hostages worse than female captives, the second official said, and there is especially heightened concern for the condition of the male soldiers held captive by Hamas.
Many male hostages have been fed less and kept in far worse conditions, the officials added, citing Israeli assessments.
Ben Ami, Sharabi and Levy seen before and after their captivity.Hostages and Missing Families Forum
Evidence supporting that intelligence has only grown in recent days, as the freed hostages and their families described elements of their captivity.
Or Levy's brother Michael said when he saw his brother on Saturday for the first time in 16 months, he wasn't the same person who left home on October 7, 2023.
He came back in poor physical condition. Anyone who saw the pictures and videos couldn't ignore it. For 16 months, he was hungry, barefoot and in constant fear that every day can be his last, Michael said, according to the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters.