Palestinian militants released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel, completing the latest hostage swap despite mounting concerns over the fragility of the Gaza truce.
An AFP journalist witnessed masked Hamas gunmen escorting the hostages onto a stage in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Yunis, where they were made to speak into a microphone before being handed over to the Red Cross and taken back to Israeli territory.
The hostages, who had been held since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, were seen clutching gift bags and certificates marking the end of their captivity. They called for the continuation of future exchanges under the ceasefire deal.
In return, a busload of Palestinian prisoners was released from Israel’s Ofer Prison and met with jubilant crowds in the West Bank city of Ramallah, while other buses transported prisoners to the Gaza Strip.
The swap, the sixth since the truce began on January 19, followed threats from both Hamas and Israel regarding violations of the agreement. Despite these tensions, the exchange was carried out, providing a glimmer of hope for the continuation of the ceasefire.
The three Israeli hostages—Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Trupanov, and Yair Horn—were among those taken during the Hamas-led assault on Israel, which sparked the ongoing war. Their release brought emotional reactions from family members, with Dekel-Chen’s wife, Avital, expressing her joy at his return.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel were welcomed by supporters upon their arrival in Gaza. Israel confirmed the release of 369 prisoners, including 36 life-sentenced detainees.
The swap raised hopes for a second phase of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict more permanently. These discussions, scheduled to begin early next week, are expected to address the ongoing hostages’ fate and outline steps toward a lasting ceasefire.
With US Secretary of State Marco Rubio due to arrive in Israel for further talks, international pressure is mounting to preserve the truce and expand the exchanges to secure the release of more prisoners on both sides.
However, the ceasefire remains under strain, with concerns over conditions in captivity and calls for swift action to prevent the collapse of the agreement.
AFP
