Three Israeli hostages, including American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, were released by Hamas on Saturday morning after being held captive in Gaza for nearly a year and a half. The other two released hostages were Sasha Troufanov, 29, and Iair Horn, 46.
The men were handed over to Red Cross personnel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, and later transferred to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which confirmed their safe return to Israel.
Details of the Hostage Release
- The three men were seen walking without serious visible injuries as they were led onto a stage by Hamas operatives in Khan Younis.
- Israeli television did not broadcast the statements they were made to read.
- The IDF later confirmed that the men had crossed into Israel and were reunited with their families.
- The hostages appeared pale and exhausted but in better condition than the three hostages released the previous week, who emerged severely emaciated.
Background of the Released Hostages
Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36
- An American-Israeli citizen.
- Father of three daughters, including a baby he had not yet met.
- Was working in a machine shop in Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas abducted him during the October 7 attack.
- His father, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, lives in New York and had spoken about his son’s captivity in September 2024.
- Reunited with his wife, Avital, on Saturday.
Sasha Troufanov, 29
- An Amazon engineer who immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union.
- His father was killed during the October 7 attack.
- His mother, grandmother, and girlfriend were previously released as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange in November 2023.
Iair Horn, 46
- Born in Argentina.
- Kidnapped along with his brother, Eitan, on October 7.
- His brother Eitan remains in captivity and is not on the list for the first phase of the hostage release deal.
- His family expressed relief but also urged efforts to secure Eitan’s release.
“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,” his family said in a statement.
Reactions to the Release
Former U.S. President Joe Biden stated that he and Jill Biden were relieved that Dekel-Chen was finally reunited with his family after 498 days in captivity.
“I am proud that the deal we negotiated has held, paving the way for the release of hostages. My thoughts and prayers are with the remaining hostages and their families who have all been through hell. We hope all will be reunited in the weeks ahead,” Biden said.
Ceasefire Deal and Ongoing Hostage Negotiations
Hamas’ Position
- Hamas initially threatened to delay Saturday’s exchange, accusing Israel of violating the agreement.
- The militant group later confirmed it would continue releasing hostages under the terms of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.
- Hamas has ruled over Gaza for nearly two decades and is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the U.S., the EU, and other countries.
Israel’s Response
- Warned Hamas that if the exchange did not proceed, military operations in Gaza would resume immediately.
- As part of the deal, Israel agreed to release 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 36 serving life sentences for deadly attacks.
Prisoner Release in the West Bank
- A bus carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arrived in Beitunia, West Bank, greeted by cheering crowds of relatives and supporters.
- Some appeared gaunt and in poor health.
- The Palestinian Red Crescent transported four prisoners for immediate medical treatment.
Breakdown of the Ceasefire Agreement
The current hostage-prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas consists of three phases:
- First Phase (Ongoing, Six Weeks)
- 33 Israeli hostages to be released.
- Thousands of Palestinian prisoners to be freed in return.
- As of Saturday, 24 Israeli hostages have been freed since the ceasefire began.
- Second Phase (Negotiations Underway)
- Could include the release of more hostages.
- Possible full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
- Third Phase (Yet to Be Determined)
- Further negotiations to determine additional conditions.
Casualties and War Timeline
The Israel-Hamas war began following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack, in which Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 hostages.
Death Toll Estimates
- Gaza Health Ministry (Hamas-controlled): Reports 48,000 deaths.
- Independent analysts: Estimate up to 64,000 deaths.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.
The release of Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov, and Iair Horn brings hope to families awaiting the return of their loved ones. However, many hostages remain in captivity, including Horn’s brother, Eitan.
As negotiations for the second phase of the deal continue, the world watches to see whether more hostages will be freed and whether Israel will agree to a full withdrawal from Gaza.
