Hamas announced on Friday the names of three hostages who are set to be released, indicating a resolution to the recent stalemate regarding the cease-fire with Israel. The hostages, identified as Alexander Troufanov, 29; Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36; and Iair Horn, 46, will be freed on Saturday as part of ongoing exchanges between the two parties. Notably, Dekel-Chen is among the last American citizens held in Gaza.
The Israeli government confirmed that Hamas had formally communicated the names of the three individuals. Earlier, President Trump had called for the release of all hostages by Saturday, but Israeli officials appeared open to adhering to the existing timeline outlined in the truce.
The cease-fire agreement, established in January, aims to halt the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It includes an initial 42-day truce during which Hamas is expected to release at least 33 hostages in exchange for over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners.
This week, Hamas had threatened to suspend the release of hostages, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the deal by deploying troops beyond cease-fire lines and failing to provide adequate shelter for displaced Palestinians. Following mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas announced readiness to proceed, contingent upon Israel fulfilling its obligations.
The agreement stipulates the delivery of at least 60,000 prefabricated housing units and 200,000 tents to Gaza, along with equipment for rubble clearance. However, as of Friday, it remained uncertain whether Israel had committed to allowing these supplies into Gaza. Omer Dostri, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that Israel was not permitting the entry of prefabricated housing or heavy construction equipment, without providing further details.
Despite the apparent progress in the hostage release, concerns persist regarding the longevity of the cease-fire. The initial phase is set to conclude in early March, and discussions regarding an extension have yet to take place. Indirect negotiations for the second phase were expected to begin last week, focusing on the war's conclusion, the release of remaining hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
However, Dostri indicated that Israel was not currently engaged in negotiations for the second phase. Netanyahu faces pressure from his right-wing coalition to resume military action against Hamas once the six-week period concludes.
The three Israeli captives have been held since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack that resulted in 1,200 fatalities and 250 abductions. All three were taken from Nir Oz, an Israeli border community severely impacted by the assault, where over a quarter of its 400 residents were either killed or abducted.
The release of Iair Horn is expected to be bittersweet for his family, as his brother Eitan has not been included in the list of hostages to be freed, delaying his release to the uncertain "second phase." Iair Horn, a long-time resident of Nir Oz and local pub manager, lost contact with his family during the attack.
Sagui Dekel-Chen, a father of three, was abducted while working in Nir Oz's machine workshop. His father has been an active advocate for his release, criticizing the Israeli government for its handling of the situation.
Alexander Troufanov, an engineer, was taken by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which also confirmed his release. Troufanov's family has faced significant hardship, with multiple relatives taken hostage during the attack.
In November, a video released by Palestinian Islamic Jihad showed Troufanov in distress, highlighting the dire conditions faced by hostages.