Israel and Hamas have completed the sixth exchange under the fragile truce, releasing three Israeli hostages and 369 Palestinian prisoners. The deal has kept the cease-fire intact for now, but its long-term future remains uncertain.
On Saturday, Hamas freed three Israeli hostages – Alexander Troufanov, Iair Horn, and Sagui Dekel-Chen – who had been held captive since the 2023 attack that ignited the war in Gaza. Israel released the prisoners without incident, a stark contrast to the previous exchange where Hamas forced the released hostages to thank their captors.
The Palestinian militants staged a show to demonstrate dominance in Gaza, displaying photos of an Israeli hostage still being held and wearing sweatshirts with the phrase “We shall neither forget nor forgive.” However, International Committee of the Red Cross has raised concerns about how these transfers are carried out, calling for more dignified and private methods.
The cease-fire deal is crucial to preventing further violence between Israel and Hamas. Reaching the second phase of the deal would require significant concessions from both sides. For Israel, this means ending its vow not to end the war until Hamas’s rule in Gaza ends. For Hamas, it involves handing over control of Gaza and potentially sending leaders into exile.
With neither side willing to blink, the future of the truce hangs in the balance. To sustain the cease-fire, either party would need to make concessions. As a result, the long-term outcome remains uncertain, leaving the international community on high alert.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-hostage-ceasefire.html