Hamas releases names of hostages due for release on Saturday

Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire agreement in the coming days, Hamas has announced the names of three hostages scheduled for release on Saturday, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The three hostages are Alexander Trufanov, who holds dual Russian and Israeli citizenship, Yair Horn, who holds dual Argentinian and Israeli citizenship, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, who holds dual American and Israeli citizenship.

Israel has stated that it will resume bombing if these three hostages are not released on time. Previously, Hamas claimed that they would postpone the release of hostages due to Israel's alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement. U.S. President Trump also stated that the ceasefire agreement should be scrapped if Hamas fails to release all hostages held in Gaza by noon on Saturday.

Since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on January 19, 16 Israeli hostages and 5 Thai hostages have been released, in exchange for Israel's release of 766 prisoners. During the first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement, a total of 33 hostages are expected to be released, in exchange for Israel releasing approximately 1900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

The conflict was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, when militants killed approximately 1200 people and abducted 251 hostages. According to the Hamas-controlled health authorities in the Gaza Strip, since then, Israel's offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 48230 deaths. Currently, 73 hostages abducted on October 7 remain held in Gaza. Additionally, three other Israeli hostages—one of whom is deceased—have been held in Gaza for a decade or longer.

Alexander Trufanov (29), Yair Horn (46), and Sagui Dekel-Chen (36) were all captured at the Nir Oz kibbutz on the Gaza border. The ceasefire agreement has been under pressure since it took effect, with both sides taking reciprocal actions for alleged violations of the agreement. The efforts of mediators such as the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have successfully prevented the collapse of the agreement. Israel has been particularly angered by the manner of the hostage releases, with hostages being publicly displayed on platforms in front of militants and onlookers before being handed over to the Red Cross in chaotic scenes. Hamas, on the other hand, has accused Israel of preventing the number of tents and aid trucks that should have entered Gaza according to the ceasefire agreement. Israel has denied this claim.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a video claiming that a rocket was fired from Gaza into Israel on Thursday. They stated that the rocket launch failed and fell within Gaza. Reuters cited Hamas-controlled police sources as saying that the rocket was an unexploded Israeli ordnance that was launched into the air while being removed. The Palestinian news agency Wafa, based in the West Bank, reported that a 14-year-old boy, Hamoud Ala Shat, was killed on the same day by Israeli ordnance that exploded in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza.