Accessibility links

Breaking News

Hamas releases 3 more Israeli hostages; Israel frees more prisoners


Hamas militants escort Israeli-Russian hostage Sasha Trupanov before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 15, 2025, as part of the sixth hostage-prisoner exchange.
Hamas militants escort Israeli-Russian hostage Sasha Trupanov before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 15, 2025, as part of the sixth hostage-prisoner exchange.

Hamas released three more hostages Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners as a fragile ceasefire appears to be holding despite recent tensions.

Israeli American Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, reportedly was taken captive when he confronted Hamas militants during their Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in southern Israel. Two months after his capture, his wife, Avital, gave birth to their third daughter.

Also released was Israeli Russian Sasha Troufanov, 29, also from Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was taken prisoner in the Hamas attack, along with his mother, Yelena, grandmother Irina Tati and girlfriend Sapir Cohen. All three women were released in a hostage deal a month later. His father, Vitaly, was killed in the attack. The family emigrated to Israel from Russia 25 years ago.

The third hostage released was identified as Israeli Argentinian Iair Horn, 46, also from Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was kidnapped in the Hamas attack, along with his brother Eitan, who is not part of the current phase of the hostage deal.

Forum

XS
SM
MD
LG