Hamas announced the names of three hostages set for release Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners amid rising ceasefire tensions. The hostages include Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, Argentine-Israeli Yair Horn, and US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen.
Israeli leaders warned that airstrikes would resume if Hamas failed to free them as planned. Israel’s warning followed Hamas’ claim that it had postponed the release over alleged ceasefire violations.
President Trump insisted Israel should abandon the ceasefire if Hamas failed to release all hostages in Gaza by midday Saturday. The fragile truce, which began on January 19, has already seen 16 Israeli and five Thai nationals freed in exchange for 766 Palestinian prisoners.
During the ceasefire’s first six weeks, mediators expect Hamas to release 33 hostages in exchange for 1900 Palestinian detainees. However, hostilities between both sides have continued straining the agreement. The war erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Since then, Israel’s military response has resulted in over 48,230 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Seventy-three hostages from the October attack remain captive in Gaza, alongside three Israeli prisoners held for over a decade.
Hamas abducted Troufanov, Horn, and Dekel-Chen from Kibbutz Nir Oz near Gaza during the initial assault. Ceasefire violations have escalated tensions, with both sides accusing each other of failing to uphold the truce.
Israel has criticized Hamas for turning hostage releases into public spectacles where gunmen release into public spectacles where gunmen display captives before chaotic handovers to the Red Cross.
Meanwhile, Hamas claims Israel has restricted humanitarian aid, preventing adequate tents and supply trucks from entering Gaza. Israel denies the allegations, stating aid deliveries continue as agreed.
On Thursday, the IDF released a video showing a failed rocket launch from Gaza. Hamas sources claimed the explosion resulted from Israeli ordnance mishandling. With ongoing tensions, the Hamas hostage release delay could push both sides closer to renewed conflict if diplomatic efforts fail.
