In a significant exchange mediated to sustain a fragile ceasefire, Hamas released three Israeli hostages—Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel Chen, and Sasha (Alexander) Troufanov—on Saturday. In return, Israel freed 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, some of whom were convicted of deadly attacks.
The hostages were handed over in Khan Younis, with armed Hamas militants standing on either side, before Israeli forces transported them back to Israel. Shortly after, buses carrying Palestinian prisoners departed Ofer prison in the West Bank, where they were met with cheering crowds waving Palestinian flags.
Some of the freed Palestinians were serving long prison sentences for involvement in suicide bombings and attacks that killed Israelis. Others had been detained after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which sparked the ongoing conflict.
The hostage swap has eased tensions over the ceasefire, which entered its 42-day first phase on January 19. The next step involves negotiations to release the remaining hostages and secure an Israeli military withdrawal before discussing the final end of the war and Gaza’s reconstruction.
Israeli officials have emphasized the urgency of securing the freedom of the remaining 73 captives, about half of whom have been declared dead in absentia. Meanwhile, the ceasefire remains fragile amid controversial proposals—such as U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion for Palestinians to be permanently resettled outside Gaza, an idea swiftly rejected by Palestinian groups, Arab nations, and Western allies.
