Hamas released three more Israeli hostages in a ceremony that included some of the same dramatic elements used in previous releases by the Palestinian militants.
This release was part of the sixth exchange of hostages for prisoners as per a 42-day cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which began last month. Hamas agreed to release 33 out of the nearly 100 captives taken on October 7, 2023. In return, Israel agreed to free over 1,000 Palestinians from its jails and partially withdraw from Gaza.
Here are details of the three male civilian hostages, including an Israeli American, who were freed on Saturday:
Sagui Dekel-Chen
Sagui Dekel-Chen, an Israeli American who played for Israel’s national basketball team, was 35 years old when he was abducted from Nir Oz, a kibbutz near the Gaza border during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
He is a father of three, and his youngest child was born while he was held captive. Dekel-Chen worked as the national coordinator for the UK branch of the Jewish National Fund and converted buses for new purposes with his wife.
His family actively advocated for a peace deal, with his father, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, criticizing the Israeli government in a New York Times opinion piece for not bringing back the hostages.
Dekel-Chen’s mother, Neomit Dekel-Chen, and some neighbors were also captured in the same attack. Neomit managed to escape while being transported towards Gaza when the Israeli military intervened.
Iair Horn
Iair Horn, a construction worker, was 45 when he was taken from Nir Oz along with his brother Eitan. Iair, born in Israel and raised in Argentina, returned to Israel with his family as an adult.
Eitan has not been scheduled for release in this phase of the peace deal, causing concern for his family. Their father emphasized the importance of bringing back all hostages, even if it means making concessions.
Sasha Troufanov
Sasha Troufanov, a dual citizen of Russia and Israel, was 27 when he was captured while visiting family in Nir Oz. His father was killed during the same incident, while his mother, grandmother, and girlfriend were released in an earlier exchange.
Troufanov worked in a Tel Aviv suburb and was held captive by Islamic Jihad militants. Hamas promised to prioritize his release in any future exchange to honor a pledge made to Russian President Vladimir Putin.