Hamas released three more Israeli hostages on Saturday in a ceremony that echoed the provocative theatrics of previous releases. This event marks the sixth round of a series of tense hostage-for-prisoner exchanges, part of a 42-day cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas that began last month.
As part of the deal, Hamas has committed to releasing 33 of the nearly 100 individuals captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks. In return, Israel has agreed to free over 1,000 Palestinians held in its prisons and to partially withdraw from Gaza.
The three civilian male hostages released on Saturday include:
Sagui Dekel-Chen
Mr. Dekel-Chen, an Israeli American and former player for Israel’s national basketball team, was taken from Nir Oz, a kibbutz near the Gaza border, where over 70 people were abducted in the Hamas-led attack. He was 35 at the time of his abduction and is the father of three children, the youngest of whom was born during his captivity. Mr. Dekel-Chen was active in the Jewish National Fund and worked with his wife to repurpose buses for new uses.
His family has been vocal in advocating for a cease-fire deal. His father, a history professor, criticized the Israeli government in an opinion piece for not securing the hostages' return. Mr. Dekel-Chen’s mother and some neighbors were also captured on October 7, but she escaped during a military operation.
Iair Horn
Mr. Horn, aged 45 at the time of his abduction from Nir Oz, was taken alongside his brother Eitan, who was visiting. Iair, who worked in construction, was born in Israel but raised in Argentina before returning with his family. Their mother expressed concern for Iair’s wellbeing, as Eitan has not been included in the current phase of releases. Their father emphasized the importance of securing the return of all hostages, even if it involves releasing individuals deemed terrorists.
Sasha Troufanov
Mr. Troufanov, a dual citizen of Russia and Israel, was 27 when he was captured while visiting family in Nir Oz. His father was killed during the attack, and other family members were taken hostage but released earlier. Mr. Troufanov was seen in a video released by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, where he appeared fatigued and spoke of shortages of food and water. A Hamas official mentioned that Mr. Troufanov would be prioritized for release in honor of Russian President Vladimir Putin.