Hamas has released three Israeli hostages in Gaza, handing them over to the Red Cross on Saturday. This exchange is part of a larger agreement that will see 369 Palestinians released from Israeli custody. The hostages, all held since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, were paraded by masked militants in Gaza’s Khan Yunis. They were given gift bags and certificates marking the end of their captivity before calling for further exchanges under the ceasefire deal.
The release marks the sixth such exchange since the truce began on January 19, despite concerns last week that the deal might collapse. On Friday, both sides confirmed that the swap would proceed. Hamas and Islamic Jihad deployed around 200 fighters for the handover ceremony, while supporters gathered in Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” to watch the exchange.
The hostages released were identified as Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen, Israeli-Russian Sasha Trupanov, and Israeli-Argentinian Yair Horn. In exchange, Israel is set to release 369 Palestinian prisoners, including 24 who will be deported. Most of the remaining prisoners are from Gaza, arrested after the October 7 attack.
Following a near-collapse of the ceasefire talks, Hamas officials have stated that discussions for the second phase of the ceasefire will begin next week. In the U.S., Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive in Israel for talks on the ongoing truce.
The ceasefire has faced immense pressure, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump proposed relocating Gaza’s population. This has sparked backlash among Palestinians, with Arab nations rejecting the plan and calling for a summit in Riyadh.
A poster at Saturday’s release depicted the final moments of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and emphasized the slogan “No displacement except to Jerusalem,” reflecting Palestinian opposition to forced displacements.
The situation remains tense, with the conflict resulting in over 1,200 deaths in Israel and more than 48,000 in Gaza.
