Israel gives names of three hostages that are released from Gaza on Saturday

Israel gives names of three hostages that are released from Gaza on Saturday

Israel has announced the names of three hostages, which are to be released on Saturday. This will be the sixth exchange round of hostages and Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire that has existed since last month.

The hostages to be released

Israel's government announced on Friday that Palestinian militant will release the American-Israeli citizen Sagui Dekel-Schen, the Russian-Israeli Alexandre Troufanov and the Argentine-Israeli Iair Horn. In return, Israel is expected to be released 369 Palestinian prisoners, as the Hamas media office announced.

troufanov was kidnapped from the Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, together with his grandmother Irena Tati, his mother Lena Troufanov and his girlfriend Sapir Cohen, all of whom were released in an earlier exchange. Decel-Schen's third child was born while he was captured; His daughter celebrated her first birthday in December. Horn was kidnapped with his brother Eisan from Nir Oz, who remains in captivity.

tensions between Hamas and Israel

This announcement will take place between Hamas and Israel via the Gaza custody arrest after a dispute this week. Hamas had declared that the Israeli hostages were not to be released on Saturday as planned because Israel allegedly violated the ceasefire. However, the differences seemed to be solved on Thursday when Hamas confirmed to free the hostages as intended.

An additional complication resulted from the proposal by US President Donald Trump to reject the multi-stage approach of the ceasefire agreement as a whole and to provide Hamas an ultimatum for the simultaneous release of all hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed Trump's claim, but did not expressly agree to her and only explained that Hamas had to bring the hostages back until Saturday afternoon without giving a specific number. Otherwise, the military operations would be "intensified" until Hamas was completely defeated.

A call to return the hostages

David Mencer, spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister's office, emphasized on Thursday that the return of all hostages was a central goal of war. If three living hostages were not released by Saturday afternoon, Israel would end the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

In a video message to President Trump, the former Israeli-American hostage-taker Keith Siegel, who was released two weeks ago from the captivity of Hamas two weeks ago, asked the American president to work on the return of the remaining prisoners. He reported: "I was kept in an unimaginable conditions for 484 days, and every single day felt like the last. President Trump, they are the reason why I came home alive. Please bring them home."

international concern about the conditions of the hostage

The chairman of the International Committee of the Red Cross (IKRK), which coordinates the exchange operations, expressed his great concern about the conditions of the hostages on Friday. "The latest release operations underline the urgent need for ICRK access to those who are kept hostage," said the message. It was also emphasized that the release and transfer operations should be carried out in a worthy and safe manner.

allegations of abuse

Israel protested against the way Hamas staged the previous release. Often hostages were presented on a stage of great crowds and surrounded by armed fighters. The three Israeli hostages, which were released in the fifth round of exchange, appeared thin and weakened, which was described as "shocking" by Israel. Palestinian Prisoners Released by Israel Have So Reported Mistreatment During Their Detention and Release. A former prisoner, Rula Hassanein, said CNN that she and other prisoners were forced to look at a 90-second Israeli propaganda film on a large screen for hours. The Israeli prison service (IPS) explained at the time that he knew nothing about the allegations.

This story continues to develop and is updated.