Hamas released three more Israeli hostages on Saturday, coinciding with Israel's release of 369 Palestinian prisoners, thereby extending a fragile cease-fire in the Gaza Strip that had recently appeared unstable.
The hostages—Alexander Troufanov, Iair Horn, and Sagui Dekel-Chen—showed signs of having lost weight and appeared paler after 16 months in captivity. They were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which initiated the ongoing conflict in Gaza. However, their condition was not as severe as that of three hostages released the previous week, whose malnourished state caused public outrage in Israel.
The hostage exchange, the sixth under the cease-fire's first phase, was used by Palestinian militants to assert their dominance in Gaza despite Israel's extensive military actions in response to the 2023 attack. Armed fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad forced the released hostages to give speeches in Hebrew in Khan Younis, with portraits of Hamas leaders displayed behind them.
During the event, the militants showcased images of Matan Zangauker, an Israeli hostage still in captivity, alongside his mother, who has been advocating for his release. An hourglass was presented to Mr. Horn, symbolizing the urgency of the situation.
A banner at the event countered a recent statement by former President Trump regarding Palestinian migration, stating, “there is no migration except to Jerusalem.” This sentiment has been widely rejected by Hamas and much of the Arab world.
The recent exchanges may help maintain the cease-fire temporarily, but the long-term prospects remain uncertain. The current arrangement, initiated in late January, is set to expire in early March unless both parties agree to an extension. There has been little indication that serious negotiations for the next phase, which would involve ending the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, have begun.
As the hostages were released, hundreds of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to celebrate, contrasting sharply with the shock and anger felt during the previous week's release of malnourished hostages. Doron Zexer, an advocate for the hostages, expressed joy at the return of the three individuals, while Viki Cohen, mother of an Israeli soldier still held captive, voiced mixed feelings of happiness and uncertainty.
The Palestinian prisoners released included 36 individuals serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis, as well as over 300 Gazans detained since the onset of the war. Many of these detainees had not been formally charged and were held incommunicado for extended periods. Upon their release, they were made to wear sweatshirts with a phrase in Arabic that read, “We shall neither forget nor forgive.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross raised concerns about the manner in which the hostage and detainee releases were conducted, calling for more dignified and private transfers.
When ten of the freed Palestinian prisoners arrived in Ramallah, they were given jackets to cover their sweatshirts. Hassan Oweis, a former member of the Palestinian security services, was among those released after being imprisoned since 2002. His family celebrated his freedom, although the atmosphere was described as “painful and uneasy” due to ongoing military operations in their home area.
Recent tensions had threatened the cease-fire, with Hamas accusing Israel of violating the agreement and Israel warning of a resumption of hostilities. However, both sides indicated a resolution had been reached by Friday.
Former President Trump appeared to soften his stance on Saturday, stating that Israel would need to decide how to proceed. Israeli leaders have shown a willingness to adhere to the cease-fire terms, although negotiations for the second phase have stalled, raising concerns about the future of the agreement.
Achieving the next phase of the cease-fire may require significant concessions from either side. Israel has committed to not ending the conflict until Hamas's rule in Gaza is dismantled, while Hamas remains reluctant to relinquish control or its hostages, which are viewed as critical leverage against a potential Israeli invasion.
For the cease-fire to endure, one side may need to make a significant concession, but as of now, neither has indicated a willingness to do so, leaving the future of the truce uncertain.