Israel and Hamas have conducted a prisoner exchange, resulting in the release of three Israeli hostages and 369 Palestinian prisoners. This exchange follows days of uncertainty and accusations between both sides, raising questions about the future of the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
The released Israeli hostages Alexander Troufanov, Yair Horn, and Sagui Dekel-Chen are now back in Israel. Their release came after Hamas initially refused to free hostages over the weekend, citing alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement. In response, Israel had warned that it would resume military operations in Gaza if the hostages were not freed by midday on Saturday.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office confirmed that some of the 369 Palestinian prisoners have already arrived in the West Bank, while others are expected to reach Gaza later. The mass release of prisoners is seen as a major win for Palestinians, while Israel continues to push for the return of all its remaining hostages.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the way the hostages were released, calling it a “despicable and cynical ceremony.” He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to securing the return of all captives still held in Gaza. Similarly, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel would continue working with the United States to ensure the safe return of the remaining hostages and to eliminate what he called “the Palestinian terror threat” in Gaza.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum highlighted that Monday would mark 500 days since 73 hostages have been held in Gaza, underscoring the prolonged suffering of families awaiting their loved ones’ return.
For Israelis, the latest hostage release was a moment of relief but also a painful reminder of the ongoing conflict. Unlike previous exchanges, this morning’s handover appeared more structured, with the freed hostages in better physical condition than those released in the past week. However, the heavily armed Palestinian militants and nationalistic displays at the event stirred deep emotions.
The exchange takes place against the backdrop of an uneasy truce, with both sides expressing doubts about its longevity. Some Israelis view the display of Palestinian militants wielding Israeli-made weapons as justification for a stronger military response. Others argue that after more than a year of intense military operations, a decisive victory over Hamas remains elusive.
For now, the return of three hostages offers a moment of relief, but the broader conflict remains far from resolved.
