Hamas released three Israeli hostages in exchange for more than 300 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday.
Hamas released Sasha Alexander Troufanov, Iair Horn, and Israel-American Sagui Dekel-Chen from captivity nearly 500 days after they were taken hostage during the group’s terrorist massacre on October 7, 2023.
The hostages were brought to their loved ones at long last after the Red Cross handed them over to the Israeli Defense Forces. Dekel-Chen reunited with his wife, Avital, who gave birth to their daughter Shachar two months after Hamas fighters kidnapped him. All three hostages were taken to central Israel for medical treatment after seeing their loves ones at an Israeli military facility near the Gaza border.
“Alongside the great excitement with the return of each hostage, we remember in the IDF our duty to return everyone,” said IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi.
Hamas terrorists abducted the hostages from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attacks, which sparked the multi-front war between Israel and the Iranian regime terrorist proxies that has since been paused. Dekel-Chen was abducted when he joined the fighting after he helped to notify his kibbutz about the terrorists and secured the safety of his wife and kids.
Horn’s brother Eitan was also kidnapped on October 7 and remains in captivity. Troufanov was taken alongside his mother, grandmother and girlfriend, all of whom were freed as part of the November 2023 hostage exchange deal.
“What a champ! You’re the best!” one of Horn’s relatives said to him in an emotional scene shared by the IDF.
The latest hostage release is part of phase one of the cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas requiring the terror group to release 33 hostages over a 42 day period. Hamas suggested earlier this week that it would postpone the release of more hostages and falsely accused Israel of violating the terms of the cease-fire, potentially ending the fragile agreement.
President Donald Trump responded forcefully, telling Hamas that “hell” would break out if the hostages were not released by noon Saturday. Trump demanded that Hamas release all of the remaining hostages in captivity, seemingly referring to all of the hostages still being held. Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. would back whatever decision Israel makes once the noon deadline comes.
“Hamas has just released three Hostages from GAZA, including an American Citizen. They seem to be in good shape!” Trump said on Truth Social.
“This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any Hostages. Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES. The United States will back the decision they make!” Trump added.
Israel embraced Trump’s strong demands for Hamas to release the hostages and prepared to resume fighting in Gaza if the terror group fully abandoned the fragile cease-fire.