Hamas released three Israeli hostages—Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel Chen, and Sasha (Alexander) Troufanov—in Gaza on Saturday, prompting Israel to begin releasing 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange. The swap proceeded after mediators intervened to prevent the fragile ceasefire from collapsing.
Live footage showed the three hostages standing on a stage in Khan Younis, flanked by armed Hamas members, before being transferred to Israeli forces. Soon after, the first bus carrying freed Palestinian prisoners departed Ofer Prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, arriving in Ramallah, where crowds cheered and waved Palestinian flags.
Among those released was Musa Nawarwa, 70, a former commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, who was serving two life sentences for the killings of Israeli soldiers. “We didn’t expect to be freed, but God is great, God set us free,” he said.
Families Reunited, Ceasefire Remains Fragile
Iair Horn, an Argentina-born Israeli, was taken captive with his younger brother Eitan, who remains in Gaza. Horn appeared visibly thinner after months in captivity. His family expressed both relief and urgency, saying, “Now, we can breathe a little. Our Iair is home after surviving hell in Gaza. Now, we need to bring Eitan back so our family can truly breathe.”
The exchange, part of a 42-day ceasefire agreement that began on January 19, has raised hopes that further deals may follow. In Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, crowds erupted in cheers and tears upon news that the Red Cross had taken the hostages to Israeli forces. The three appeared in better condition than others released last week, who looked weak and malnourished.
A Community’s Long Ordeal
The hostages were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters stormed Israeli communities near the Gaza border, killing and capturing civilians. Dekel Chen, 36, a U.S.-Israeli citizen, was abducted after leaving his pregnant wife and two daughters in a safe room to defend the kibbutz. His release means he will meet his youngest daughter for the first time.
Sasha Troufanov, a Russian-Israeli, was taken alongside his mother, grandmother, and girlfriend, who were released in a November 2023 truce. His father was killed in the attack.
During the handover in Khan Younis, masked Hamas fighters carrying seized Israeli rifles forced the hostages to make short statements in Hebrew. Horn was handed an hourglass and a photo of another Israeli hostage and his mother, with a message: “Time is running out.”
Ceasefire Holds, but Tensions Remain
Nineteen Israelis and five Thai hostages have been freed so far, while 73 remain in captivity, with Israeli authorities declaring about half of them dead in absentia.
The deal faced collapse after Hamas accused Israel of violating truce terms, leading to warnings from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government that fighting could resume. Israeli protests have intensified, demanding the far-right coalition stick to the ceasefire and secure the release of all hostages.
The ceasefire deal, brokered with international mediation, requires Hamas to release 33 Israeli hostages, prioritizing women, children, the elderly, and the wounded, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Talks on a full Israeli withdrawal and Gaza’s reconstruction are expected in later phases.
Since the war began, 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while most of the 2.3 million residents remain displaced. The conflict started after the October 7 attack, in which Hamas killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
