Hamas Transfers Israeli Hostages to Red Cross in Latest Gaza Swap

AFP/APP

Khan Yunis: Gaza fighters handed three Israeli hostages over to the Red Cross on Saturday in an exchange set to include the release of 369 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody. This marks the latest swap under an ongoing truce deal.

An AFP journalist reported that masked Hamas fighters paraded the hostages onto a stage in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Yunis, where they were instructed to address the gathered crowd before their handover to the Red Cross.

Clutching gift bags provided by their captors and certificates marking the end of their captivity, the three men—flanked by fighters—called for further hostage exchanges under the ceasefire deal.

Sixth Exchange Under Ceasefire Agreement

This release, the sixth since the truce took effect on January 19, followed concerns last week that the deal between Israel and Hamas was nearing collapse. However, both sides confirmed on Friday that the swap would proceed as planned.

During the event, dozens of Hamas fighters lined up around the stage, which bore the logo of the group’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, while Palestinian nationalist music played. Sources from Hamas and Islamic Jihad reported that around 200 militants were deployed for the handover ceremony.

Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square,” a crowd gathered to witness the exchange, waving Israeli flags and holding posters in support of the captives.

Identities of the Released Hostages

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the hostages as:

Sagui Dekel-Chen (Israeli-American)

Sasha Trupanov (Israeli-Russian)

Yair Horn (Israeli-Argentinian)

They had been held captive since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the ongoing war.

Palestinian Prisoners Released in Exchange

According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group, Israel is set to release 369 inmates, with 24 of them expected to be deported. The majority of those released are prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were detained after October 7.

Ceasefire Talks Expected to Continue

Following concerns over the deal’s stability, a Hamas official stated on Friday that talks on a second phase of the ceasefire are expected to begin early next week.

Meanwhile, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose country is Israel’s top ally and a key mediator in the truce, is scheduled to arrive in Israel late Saturday for discussions with Netanyahu regarding the Gaza ceasefire.

Concerns Over Captivity Conditions

Last week’s hostage release sparked anger in Israel and beyond after the freed captives were paraded onstage, raising concerns about their emaciated condition.

Israeli-American hostage Keith Siegel, who was released in an earlier swap, described being “starved and… tortured, both physically and emotionally” during his captivity.

There are also growing concerns for Palestinians held in Israeli custody, as some prisoners required medical treatment following their release in previous exchanges.