Masked Hamas militants handed over three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Yunis on Saturday as part of the sixth prisoner swap under the ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen, Israeli-Russian Sasha Trupanov, and Israeli-Argentinian Yair Horn were briefly displayed on a stage before being transferred to the Red Cross. The exchange took place amid ongoing accusations between Israel and Hamas of ceasefire violations, with Hamas temporarily halting releases and Israel warning of renewed military action. However, both sides confirmed by Friday that the Saturday exchange would proceed as planned.
Hostage Exchange and Ceasefire Talks
Around 200 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants gathered in Khan Yunis for the handover, which took place on a stage featuring the emblem of Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades. The three released hostages had been held captive since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the current conflict.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, Israel is set to release 369 detainees in return, with 24 facing deportation. Most of the released detainees—333 in total—are from Gaza and were arrested after the October 7 attack.
Despite tensions that nearly derailed the ceasefire, Hamas announced on Friday that discussions on a potential second phase of the truce could begin early next week. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, representing a key mediator and Israel’s main ally, is expected to arrive in Israel late Saturday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the future of the truce.
Concerns Over Treatment of Hostages and Detainees
The treatment of released hostages has drawn sharp criticism, with past captives appearing frail and malnourished. Israeli-American hostage Keith Siegel, freed in an earlier exchange, described being “starved and… tortured, both physically and emotionally” during his captivity.
At the same time, concerns persist over the treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, as some required medical attention upon release in previous swaps.
