Three Israeli hostages are set to be freed by Hamas on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
According to Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, the three hostages are Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, a 29-year-old Russian-Israeli civilian; Sagui Dekel-Chen, a 36-year-old Israeli-American civilian; and Yair Horn, a 46-year-old Israeli.
Israel has confirmed receipt of the list of hostages to be freed from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip. The list was delivered through Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Initially, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the list was “acceptable to Israel,” but a spokesperson later clarified that this was purely a factual statement and did not indicate any official stance on the exchange.
“This is a purely factual description and does not reflect any Israeli position on the matter,” the spokesperson clarified.
In exchange, Israel will release 369 Palestinian prisoners today, including 333 who will be sent back to Gaza. Ten others will return to their homes in the West Bank, and one will be released in East Jerusalem. Additionally, 25 prisoners serving life sentences will either be deported to Gaza or sent abroad via Egypt.
This exchange is part of ongoing efforts to ease tensions and maintain the ceasefire, though the broader peace process remains uncertain.
This will mark the sixth batch of prisoner-for-hostage exchanges between Israel and Hamas under the ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19.
The anticipated release comes amid heightened tensions after former U.S. President Donald Trump warned that if “all of the hostages” in Gaza were not freed by Saturday at noon, the truce would be canceled, and he would “let hell break out.” Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant echoed the warning, stating that Israel would resume its military operations in Gaza if the hostages were not released.
–IANS