Three Israeli hostages, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Yair Horn, and Alexander Troufanov, were released by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire deal. The swap came days after Hamas said it would pause the release of hostages, citing Israel’s alleged violation of the agreement.
So far, 19 hostages and over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners have been freed under the first phase of the ceasefire. The three men were handed over to Red Cross workers in a public show in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, surrounded by Hamas militants. They were then transferred to military helicopters for medical tests and reunion with relatives.
The release brings the total number of hostages freed to 141, including 81 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals. The ceasefire deal aims to free another 14 hostages over time.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog criticized the handling of the release, calling it a “despicable and cynical ceremony.” US President Donald Trump marked the event, saying Hamas had not followed through with their threat, noting that the released hostages appeared in good shape.
The majority of freed Palestinians were taken to Gaza or West Bank, where crowds gathered to welcome them. Most of those serving life sentences will be deported to Egypt. The ceasefire deal remains fragile, with some groups accusing Israel of violating its terms.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g7n3l98z6o