Freed Israeli hostage learns daughter's name, as released Palestinians burn shirts

Among the three Israeli hostages released by Hamas, 36-year-old Sagi Dekel-Chen, after being held captive for 498 days, reunited with his family and learned the name of his youngest daughter for the first time. Dekel-Chen was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, while his wife, Avital, was pregnant with their third child.

Their daughter was born two months after he was kidnapped by Hamas. In a video released by the Israeli government on Saturday, Dekel-Chen smiled as he learned that his daughter's name was Shahar Mazar. "Perfect," he responded, kissing his wife.

Dekel-Chen left his wife and two daughters in the safe room of their house. At the time, Hamas militants were attacking their community near the Gaza border. He was released along with two other hostages, Sasha Trufanov and Iair Horn, who were also kidnapped from Nir Oz. The three reunited with their families at the Reim military base in southern Israel, before being taken to a hospital in Tel Aviv for further medical care and family reunification.

Hagar Mizrahi of the Israeli Ministry of Health said: "The strength of the returning captives and their families evokes hope in dealing with pain. Furthermore, in these complex days, it is important to remember those who are not with us, and those who paid the ultimate price so that we could reach today, and those who are injured in body and soul."

Cecilia Cohen, a friend of the Horn family, watched the release of these individuals at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. She told ABC: "A girl I don't know, I don't remember her name, I don't remember her face – she gave me a handkerchief to wipe my tears." Ms. Cohen said that while people felt great relief, Iair Horn's brother is still being held hostage. "It's a mix of sadness and joy," she said. "But we are waiting for the other brother, Eitan, who is still a hostage in Gaza. It's really unsettling – I feel sad and happy at the same time."

Shortly after the three Israelis crossed the Gaza border, buses carrying Palestinian prisoners and detainees left prisons across Israel. Thirty-six people convicted of crimes such as carrying out terrorist attacks against Israelis were released, some of whom were immediately deported to Egypt. Among them was Ahmed Barghouti, who was sentenced to 13 life sentences for his involvement in attacks that killed 12 Israelis during the Second Intifada.

A total of 333 Palestinians detained during the Gaza war were returned to the war-torn Gaza Strip, with families scrambling to see them. The most eager climbed onto the sides of the buses, hugging and kissing those released through the windows. Many returning to Gaza accused Israeli authorities of beating and abusing them in prison, a concern echoed by the Palestinian Prisoners Media Office, which has been monitoring the releases under the ceasefire agreement.

The agency said in a statement: "The effects of torture and oppression are clearly visible on the bodies of the prisoners, which requires a firm stance to hold the occupation accountable for its crimes. Just as the occupation demands the release of its prisoners, our prisoners also have the right to freedom and dignity." The Palestinian Red Crescent said that four released prisoners in the West Bank had to be rushed to hospital for treatment.

In recent weeks, the Israeli government has criticized the clothing worn by Hamas when releasing hostages – particularly young female Israeli Defense Forces soldiers who were paraded on stage in uniform before being handed over to the Red Cross. The Palestinians released by the Israeli Prison Authority on Saturday wore T-shirts emblazoned with the Star of David, a symbol of the Jewish faith and the State of Israel, and the words "We will not forgive or forget" written in Arabic. The decision sparked accusations of double standards, with some of the released Palestinians seen burning the shirts in the streets shortly after arriving in Gaza.

Among the crowds watching in Khan Younis on Saturday, 22-year-old Shaima Abu Haya said she was relieved that the ceasefire had been maintained. "We hope the hostages are handed over because we are tired of the war and we want it to stop," she said. The future of Gaza weighs heavily on the minds of Palestinians. "(The Israelis) pretend the resistance is over, thank God, the resistance is going well," Nazmi Muhammad Abu Asi, 65, told ABC. "We tell Netanyahu, this idiot, you should leave our land. Whatever happens, we will die on our land."

As the sixth hostage and prisoner transfer was completed, at the end of the fourth week of the ceasefire in Gaza, attention is turning to the future of the truce. The current agreement expires on March 2, and "Phase Two" negotiations on what will happen after that deadline have been derailed and delayed over the past two weeks. On Saturday evening local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting with security officials to discuss the country's position going into these negotiations. He is facing pressure from within the country, particularly from the families of hostages still held in Gaza, who are demanding an extension of the ceasefire to ensure that all Israelis can be brought home.

With the March 2 deadline looming, 14 more hostages are scheduled to return, eight of whom are already dead. Dozens more hostages remain in captivity and can only be released if a new agreement is reached. Shay Dickman's cousin, Carmel Gat, was murdered while being held in Gaza, and she watched the latest releases at Hostages Square on Saturday. "I know the consequences of the agreement breaking down," she told ABC. "And this time, maybe we can hold on, maintain this agreement, until the last hostage comes back."

Israel has already massed troops and tanks along the Gaza border in case the ceasefire agreement breaks down this weekend. Outgoing Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi posted on social media that Israel is doing everything it can to bring the hostages home. "We are putting a lot of effort into this, and at the same time, we are preparing offensive plans," he posted.