Israel has announced that it will release three Israeli captives on Saturday, amid escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip. The captives, identified as Sasha Alexander Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Yair Horn, were taken by Hamas during a recent escalation of violence.
The announcement comes as Israel faces mounting international pressure to respect its ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying they amount to “ethnic cleansing” and constitute war crimes.
Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard has called on the world to stand up against Israel’s policies in Gaza, saying it is a “cruel destruction of a peace process that took months to negotiate”. She has urged the international community to take action to protect Palestinian sovereignty and ensure accountability for war crimes committed in Gaza.
Meanwhile, clashes have erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinian residents in the West Bank village of Yatma. The violence follows an Israeli raid on the village, which was met with resistance from local youths.
The release of the captives is expected to be part of a sixth batch of prisoners to be released under a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. However, the move has been criticized by pro-Palestinian groups, who say it does not address the underlying issues driving the conflict.
As tensions in Gaza continue to escalate, concerns are growing about the ability of humanitarian aid to reach those affected. Heavy machinery and mobile homes, which were supposed to be delivered under the terms of the ceasefire, remain stuck at the border with Egypt, despite Israel’s promise to allow them through.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/2/14/live-israel-warns-of-war-as-hamas-confirms-3-gaza-captives-to-be-freed