GAZA: Israeli hostages Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Sasha Troufanov will return from Gaza on Saturday. Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped prevent a standoff that could have ended a fragile ceasefire.
Hamas said it would release the three in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners. This eased fears that the deal could collapse before the 42-day ceasefire ends.
Gunmen abducted Dekel-Chen, Troufanov, and Horn from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Hamas had threatened to stop releasing hostages, accusing Israel of blocking aid. Israel denied the claim and warned of renewed fighting. Reservists were called up, and Israeli forces stayed on high alert.
Israelis were outraged by the condition of three hostages released last week. Some demanded the government continue negotiations, while others called for a tougher stance.
The ceasefire faced further challenges. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested moving Palestinians out of Gaza and giving the enclave to the U.S. for redevelopment. Palestinian groups and Arab states strongly rejected this idea.
Last month, Hamas agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israel also agreed to pull back forces from parts of Gaza during the six-week truce.
Hamas had so far released 16 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in an unscheduled handover. Gaza still holds 76 hostages, with only about half believed to be alive.
The truce aimed to pave the way for further negotiations. Talks would focus on releasing the Israel invaded Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. That attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took over 250 hostages. Israel’s military response killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The assault destroyed buildings and left most of the population homeless.emaining hostages and withdrawing Israeli forces.
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A final agreement would end the war and start rebuilding Gaza, which now faces extreme shortages of food, water, and electricity.
Hamas recently accused Israel of blocking shelters and tents from entering Gaza. It said this left thousands exposed to winter cold. Israel rejected the accusation, stating it had allowed thousands of aid trucks into Gaza. Israel also accused Hamas of breaking the agreement.
International aid groups confirmed more trucks are entering Gaza. However, aid officials say the supplies remain insufficient.
