Hamas has confirmed the release of three Israeli hostages—Israeli-Argentinian Iair Horn, 46; Israeli-American Sagui Dekel Chen, 36; and Israeli-Russian Alexander Troufanov, 29—scheduled for Saturday as part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement. The release is a pivotal element in the fragile ceasefire that had been threatened by recent disputes, risking the collapse of peace talks.
The hostages were initially kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, which ignited the ongoing war in Gaza. Under the ceasefire terms, which began on January 21, Israel is committed to freeing over 300 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, marking the sixth swap to date.
The ceasefire has faced challenges, with Hamas accusing Israel of breaching the agreement by failing to provide sufficient aid, shelter, and medical supplies for Gaza. In retaliation, Israel threatened to resume military operations unless the hostages were released, raising uncertainty about the continuation of the deal.
Despite the tensions, an Israeli official confirmed that the list of hostages for release had been received. The hostages to be freed on Saturday were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a region hard-hit during the October attack.
Concerns over the wellbeing of remaining hostages in Gaza have escalated following the release of previous captives who showed signs of severe mistreatment, including starvation and torture. With the first phase of the ceasefire nearing its end in March, uncertainty looms over negotiations for the second phase, which would involve the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent halt to the conflict.
The political landscape remains contentious, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza adding further tension to the already fragile ceasefire. Human rights groups have raised alarm over the potential legal implications of such a plan.
As the ceasefire continues to hold for now, the fate of the remaining hostages and the future of peace in Gaza hang in the balance.
