Masked Hamas militants transferred three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, on Saturday, marking the sixth exchange under a fragile truce with Israel. The handover of Sagui Dekel-Chen, an Israeli-American, Sasha Trupanov, an Israeli-Russian, and Yair Horn, an Israeli-Argentinian, took place in a highly staged event before their captors released them.
The three men, who had been held captive since the October 7 Hamas attacks, were brought on stage before a gathered crowd. Flanked by armed militants wielding assault rifles, they were each handed gift bags and certificates marking their release. Addressing the audience via microphone, they called for further exchanges under the ongoing ceasefire agreement, emphasizing the need to secure the release of more hostages.
This latest exchange comes amid ongoing negotiations for a broader hostage-prisoner swap deal, mediated by Qatar and Egypt. Under the temporary truce, Hamas has released dozens of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, uncertainty looms over the ceasefire’s longevity, as both sides remain wary of each other’s next moves.
Israeli officials have cautiously welcomed the return of hostages but continue to push for the release of all captives. The Israeli government insists that military operations in Gaza will resume if Hamas does not agree to further releases. Meanwhile, international pressure is mounting to extend the ceasefire and prevent further bloodshed.
The hostage handovers have been accompanied by tense moments, with reports emerging of captives being paraded before their release. The public display of the hostages in Khan Yunis underscores the deep psychological and political dimensions of the conflict. Hamas has leveraged these exchanges as a propaganda tool, while Israel continues to navigate complex diplomatic channels to secure the return of its citizens.
With the truce holding for now, attention turns to whether both sides can agree on extending the deal or if fighting will resume. The fate of the remaining hostages and the broader humanitarian situation in Gaza remain central concerns as the crisis unfolds.
