In a significant development, Palestinian militants released three Israeli hostages on Saturday, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian inmates freed by Israel. This latest swap marks the sixth since the truce took effect on January 19, despite concerns that the Gaza truce deal was on the verge of collapse.
The three Israeli hostages, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Trupanov, and Yair Horn, had been held captive by Gaza militants since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The hostages were released in Khan Yunis, where they were greeted by Red Cross officials and handed over to Israeli authorities.
In return, Israel released 369 Palestinian prisoners, including 333 Gazans taken into custody during the war and 36 prisoners serving life sentences. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group confirmed the release, which was also acknowledged by Israeli authorities.
The prisoner swap was seen as a crucial step in maintaining the fragile Gaza truce. Hamas had threatened to pause hostage releases over alleged Israeli violations, while Israel had warned of resuming the war if the swap did not take place.
Despite the progress, concerns remain about the fate of 70 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, including 35 declared dead by the Israeli military. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that efforts are underway to secure the release of the remaining hostages “as quickly as possible.”
The Gaza truce has been under strain since US President Donald Trump proposed a takeover of the Gaza Strip, which Arab countries have rejected. Saudi Arabia is set to host a summit on the issue, and Christian churches in Jerusalem have urged that Gazans “must not be forced into exile.”
The conflict has resulted in significant human suffering, with at least 48,264 people killed in Gaza, mostly civilians, and 1,211 people killed in Israel, mostly civilians.