Three Israeli hostages to return as Gaza ceasefire holds
Israeli hostages Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Sasha Troufanov will return from Gaza on Saturday. Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped prevent a crisis that could have collapsed a fragile ceasefire. Hamas agreed to release them in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners, easing fears of renewed conflict.
Gunmen seized Dekel-Chen, Troufanov, and Horn in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 Hamas attack. Armed militants have gathered in Khan Younis, where Hamas will hand them over to the Red Cross. The organization will then transfer them to Israeli forces.
Earlier, Hamas threatened to halt hostage releases, accusing Israel of blocking aid. Israel denied the claim, insisting it had allowed thousands of trucks into Gaza. Tensions escalated as Israel mobilized reservists and placed troops on high alert.
The frail condition of recently freed hostages sparked protests in Israel. Citizens demanded the government uphold the ceasefire and secure more releases. In response to allegations of mistreatment, Islamic Jihad released a video of Troufanov fishing and eating on a Gaza beach.
Meanwhile, a controversial call by U.S. President Donald Trump to relocate Palestinians from Gaza fueled further unrest. Palestinian groups, Arab states, and Western allies strongly rejected the idea.
Under the current truce, Hamas had agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. So far, 16 hostages and five Thais have returned. However, 76 remain captive, and only about half are believed to be alive.
The ceasefire aimed to pave the way for further negotiations, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and Gaza’s reconstruction. However, Hamas accused Israel of blocking shelter materials, leaving thousands exposed to the cold. Israel dismissed the claim, accusing Hamas of violating the deal instead. Hamas now expects Israel to fulfill its aid commitments to maintain the truce.
International aid groups confirm more trucks have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began. However, they warn the aid remains insufficient for the population’s urgent needs.
Israel invaded Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. The subsequent military campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, destroyed much of Gaza, and left most residents homeless.
