Three Israeli hostages released in Gaza handed over to Red Cross representatives VIDEO

Three hostages, Alexander Trufanov (an Israeli-Russian citizen), Sagui Dekel-Chen (an Israeli-American citizen), and Iair Horn (an Israeli repatriate from Argentina), were released as part of a deal with terrorists and handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

According to reports by Israeli media, the hostages are being transferred to Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) units, Caliber.Az reports. 

After their release, a Red Cross representative signed a document confirming that the hostages were in good condition.

The militants made the hostages speak publicly in front of a crowd in Khan Younis, where Trufanov expressed the need to continue negotiations with Hamas and stressed the importance of not forgetting the remaining hostages.

Israeli captive Yair Horn received an hourglass from the Hamas with the inscription:

“Time is running out.” pic.twitter.com/ArrIXSRZbz

— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 15, 2025

Since the ceasefire began on January 19, 16 Israeli and five Thai hostages have been released in exchange for 766 Palestinian prisoners. Over the first six-week phase of the ceasefire, a total of 33 hostages are expected to be freed in return for roughly 1,900 Palestinian detainees held in Israel.

The ongoing war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, over 48,230 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive since the attack.

Currently, 73 hostages taken during the October assault remain in Gaza. Additionally, three other Israeli hostages have been held for over a decade, one of whom has died.

Trufanov, Horn, and Dekel-Chen were all captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz, located on the Gaza border. The ceasefire has faced significant challenges, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Intense diplomatic efforts, particularly by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, have prevented its collapse.

Israel has voiced frustration over the public display of hostages during their release, where they have been paraded in front of crowds and gunmen before being handed over to the Red Cross. Meanwhile, Hamas accuses Israel of restricting aid shipments to Gaza, although Israel denies these claims.

 By Tamilla Hasanova