Three Israelis freed from Gaza captivity by Red Cross
Three Israeli hostages released by Palestinian militants in Gaza
In a significant development, three Israeli hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza by Palestinian militants on February 15. This exchange marked the sixth exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire deal that came into effect last month.
The hostages, American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Alexandre Troufanov, and Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn, were released in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, around 10 a.m. local time. They were seen exiting vehicles surrounded by militants, who ushered them onto a stage where they addressed the crowd.
Unlike the previous week’s hostages whose condition drew condemnation from Israeli officials, the men appeared to be in better health. Israel is expected to release 369 Palestinian prisoners later on Saturday, with 333 of them being arrested in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This release will be the largest number of Palestinian prisoners released during the exchanges so far.
The release took place close to the house of slain former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israel in October. Images showed masked fighters carrying weapons and gathering around a stage with flags and images depicting Sinwar and other militant leaders.
A banner at the stage read, “No migration except to Jerusalem,” which was seen as an apparent rebuke to US President Donald Trump and his plans for a mass displacement of Palestinians from the enclave.
The exchange of hostages and prisoners reflects a step towards peace and reconciliation in the region, albeit with political undertones. It remains to be seen how this development will impact the fragile ceasefire and the overall situation in Gaza.
