Three Israeli hostages were released from Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The exchange took place after a dispute earlier in the week threatened to derail the deal.
The hostages—American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Alexandre Troufanov, and Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn—were freed in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, in the sixth such exchange under the truce. Footage showed them emerging from vehicles, surrounded by militants who led them onto a stage where they briefly addressed the crowd.
Unlike the hostages released the previous week, whose poor health conditions sparked outrage among Israeli officials, the three men appeared in relatively better shape. They were given bags containing memorabilia, with Horn seen holding small hourglasses. Troufanov appeared to struggle while descending stairs.
Upon returning to Israel, Dekel-Chen was filmed at Sheba Medical Center, walking with his wife, Avital, to reunite with his sisters. “There’s no place like home,” he told medical staff.
Ahead of the hostage release, armed militants gathered near the home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, killed by Israel in October. Masked fighters displayed weapons and stood by a stage adorned with images of Sinwar and other militant leaders. A banner on the stage read, “No migration except to Jerusalem,” an apparent response to U.S. policies regarding Palestinian displacement.
Shortly after, the Israeli Prison Service confirmed the release of 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, the highest number exchanged under the truce so far. The Palestinian Prisoners Society stated that 333 of them, arrested in Gaza after the October 7 attack, had returned to the enclave. They arrived via Kerem Shalom into Rafah and were taken to a hospital in Khan Younis, where crowds awaited them. An additional 36 detainees were released to the occupied West Bank, with 24 later exiled to Egypt.
Some freed Palestinian detainees were reportedly made to wear prison-issued clothing inscribed with the message “We will not forget, and we will not forgive” alongside a Star of David, a move condemned by Hamas and Islamic Jihad as a violation of international humanitarian laws. Videos showed some of the released individuals burning the uniforms.
In Gaza, recently released detainees described their prison experiences, alleging mistreatment and abuse. Mohammad Saleh Al-Herbawi, a 42-year-old former detainee, claimed his time in Israeli custody was “the worst three months” of his life, citing humiliation, beatings, and psychological abuse. The Israel Prison Service has previously stated it operates within legal guidelines.
Earlier in the week, Hamas temporarily halted the scheduled releases, accusing Israel of breaching its ceasefire commitments. Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israel to cancel the agreement and “let all hell break out.” However, after mediation by Egypt and Qatar, Hamas proceeded with the exchange. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office credited Trump’s statement as influencing Hamas’ decision to comply.
Following the latest exchange, Hamas reiterated that any further hostage releases would only happen through negotiations and adherence to the ceasefire terms.
All three hostages freed on Saturday were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attack and had been held for nearly 500 days. Troufanov was 27 at the time and was captured alongside his grandmother, mother, and girlfriend, all of whom were released earlier. His father was killed during the attack. Dekel-Chen, 35, was kidnapped while defending the kibbutz. His wife, pregnant at the time, gave birth to their daughter while he was in captivity. Horn, 46, was taken along with his brother, who remains in Gaza.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed Dekel-Chen’s release and expressed hope for the return of remaining hostages.
So far, 19 Israeli hostages have been freed under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which initially aimed to release 33 individuals. However, Israeli authorities state that eight of those 33 are deceased.
Despite the latest releases, the long-term stability of the ceasefire remains uncertain. Talks to extend the agreement, set to expire on March 1, face obstacles.
The October 7 attack resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths, while Israel’s military response has killed more than 48,000 people in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The war has devastated the enclave and triggered a humanitarian crisis. The conflict has also expanded beyond Gaza, involving regional actors such as Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
