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3mo ago

Hamas and Israel Exchange Hostages and Prisoners as Ceasefire Holds

Three Israeli hostages and 369 Palestinian prisoners were released in the sixth exchange under a fragile truce, with future negotiations uncertain.

Israeli hostages Iair Horn, 46, left, Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, center left, and Alexander Troufanov, 29, right, are escorted by Hamas and islamic Jihad fighters as they are handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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Red Cross vehicles enter an area secured by Palestinian Hamas fighters, before receiving Israeli hostages in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on February 15, 2025.
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Overview

  • Hamas released three Israeli hostages—Sagui Dekel Chen, Iair Horn, and Alexander Troufanov—while Israel freed 369 Palestinian prisoners, including individuals convicted of deadly attacks.
  • The exchange marks the sixth since the ceasefire began on January 19, with 21 hostages and over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released so far.
  • The truce remains fragile, with tensions heightened by accusations of ceasefire violations and controversial proposals by U.S. President Donald Trump to relocate Gaza's population.
  • The released Israeli hostages, seized during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, appeared in better health than previous releases but shared harrowing accounts of captivity.
  • Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire, including the release of remaining hostages and an Israeli military withdrawal, face significant challenges as the March 1 deadline approaches.