Hamas-led militants released three Israeli hostages Saturday as Israel freed 369 Palestinian prisoners in the latest exchange under a fragile ceasefire agreement.
The hostages— Iair Horn, 46, a dual Israeli-Argentine citizen; American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen, 36; and Russian-Israeli Alexander Sasha Troufanov, 29 — were handed over in southern Gaza before being transported to Israel for medical evaluation and reunification with their families. All three were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the ongoing war.
Israeli officials said the men appeared in better physical condition than some of the previously released hostages, who emerged emaciated after months in captivity.
The exchange comes amid growing uncertainty over the ceasefire, which has held for nearly four weeks but faced setbacks due to disputes over aid deliveries to Gaza.
Hamas had threatened to delay hostage releases, accusing Israel of failing to allow sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza, including medical supplies, tents, and fuel. Israel, in response, warned it would resume military operations if hostages were not freed.
US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators intervened, leading to the latest release. The ceasefire’s future remains uncertain as negotiations over its next phase continue.
As part of the agreement, Israel freed 369 Palestinian detainees. A bus carrying released prisoners arrived in the occupied West Bank town of Beitunia, where families and supporters greeted them. Others were transported to Gaza, where large crowds welcomed them in Khan Younis.
Among those freed were 36 individuals serving life sentences for involvement in attacks against Israelis, including Ahmed Barghouti, 48, a close aide to Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti. Israel had sentenced him to life for orchestrating suicide bombings during the Second Intifada.
Twenty-four of the prisoners were exiled abroad, while 12 returned to the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The remaining 333 were sent to Gaza, with Israel agreeing to release over 1,000 detainees in total, provided they were not involved in the October 7 attack.
Of the 251 people abducted on October 7, 73 remain in Gaza, with at least half presumed dead. Most of the remaining captives are men, including Israeli soldiers.
The condition of those still held is raising alarm, especially after three hostages released last week appeared severely malnourished. Keith Siegel, 65, who was among them, described being beaten and deprived of water and light as the conflict intensified.
The ceasefire, in place since January 19, could collapse as early as March if further negotiations stall. While Hamas has signaled willingness to continue hostage exchanges, no substantial talks have taken place regarding the second phase, which could see the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for a complete end to the war.
The conflict has devastated Gaza, displacing 90 percent of its 2.3 million residents and leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, though Israel claims 17,000 were militants, a number it has not substantiated.
The ceasefire’s stability is further complicated by former US President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle over 2 million Palestinians outside Gaza and place the territory under US administration. The plan, which envisions transforming Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East, has been welcomed by some Israeli officials but strongly rejected by Palestinians and Arab nations, who call it a potential war crime.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right allies are already pushing for a return to full-scale war after the first phase of the ceasefire, aiming to eliminate Hamas and implement Trump’s plan.
With Hamas still in control of Gaza, the group’s willingness to continue hostage releases remains uncertain, as the captives are among its last bargaining chips.
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