Israel and Hamas completed their sixth exchange of hostages and prisoners after their ceasefire survived its latest crisis. Israel released more 369 Palestinian prisoners from custody Saturday after receiving three Israeli men held hostage in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war.
Hamas said earlier this week it would delay the exchange because Israel wasn’t letting the agreed-upon humanitarian aid into devastated Gaza. However, the exchange got back on track after Hamas said mediators Egypt and Qatar had pledged to “remove all hurdles” to ensure Israel would allow more tents, medical supplies and other essentials.
There are just over two weeks remaining first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which began on Jan. 19. The war could resume in early March if no agreement is reached on the more complicated second phase, which calls for the return of all remaining hostages captured in the Oct. 7 attack and an indefinite extension of the truce.
Here's the latest:
TEL AVIV, Israel — Chen’s wife, Avital, told Israeli media that every Saturday for the past month her daughters have asked her: “Is Daddy coming home today?”
She said she was overwhelmed with happiness to see Sagui back in Israel where he will meet for the first time his youngest daughter Shachar, born while he was in captivity.
Chen appeared to be limping as he descended the stage during the hostage release.
“Our hearts ache for everything he missed, but now he’s here, unlike many others,” Dekel Chen’s family said.
Troufanov's family said they were “overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude” as he crossed into Israeli territory. Before meeting them, Troufanov was informed his father was killed on Oct. 7, 2023.
Horn's family joyously put stickers that read “I’m back!” on sweatshirts bearing photos of the Argentinian-Israeli brothers Eitan and Iair Horn.
“Our Iair is home after surviving hell in Gaza. Now, we need to bring Eitan back so our family can truly breathe,” the family said.
In the pub that Horn managed at Kibbutz Nir Oz, dozens of people gathered, raising toasts to the return of the three hostages.
Israel begins releasing Palestinian prisoners
Earlier
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israel is expected to release 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 36 serving life sentences over deadly attacks.
Footage showed a busload of prisoners arriving in the occupied West Bank, where they were met by relatives and cheering supporters.
Most of those released were transported to Gaza, where a large crowd greeted them in Khan Younis, the same town where the hostages had been released hours earlier.
Russian ambassador to Qatar welcomes Trufanov's release
President Trump weighs in on release of Israeli hostages
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that the Israeli hostages freed Saturday “seem to be in good shape.”
“Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES. The United States will back the decision they make!” Trump wrote.
Israel has not imposed such a deadline, and it is not part of the ceasefire deal.
Trump’s recent proposal to remove the territory’s over 2 million Palestinians and settle them elsewhere in the region has also rattled the truce.
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