Hamas releases three Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners

Under the framework of a fragile ceasefire agreement, Hamas released three Israeli hostages on Saturday, while Israel also began releasing approximately 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in the latest round of exchanges. This exchange offers a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing conflict and demonstrates the potential for negotiation.

According to live footage, at the release site in Khan Younis, Sagi Dekel-Chen, Alexander Sasha Trufanov, and Iyar Horn were escorted by Hamas militants to a stage. The release of these hostages represents a significant step in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

The three hostages made brief speeches to the crowd via microphone, urging further hostage exchanges under the current ceasefire agreement, after which they returned to Israel in Red Cross vehicles. Shortly thereafter, the first bus carrying released Palestinian prisoners and detainees left the Israeli Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank. The bus was greeted by cheering crowds upon arrival in Ramallah, with some waving Palestinian flags.

The prisoners, wearing traditional keffiyeh scarves, were carried on shoulders, embraced by relatives, and then underwent brief health checks. The released detainees were also wearing shirts emblazoned with the Star of David and the slogan "We will not forget or forgive" written in Arabic. The Palestinian Prisoners Club advocacy group stated that some of the released Palestinian prisoners were in extremely poor health. There were prior indications of severe torture, disease, and starvation among prisoners released from Israeli prisons.

Shortly thereafter, a convoy carrying 333 prisoners released from Israeli prisons arrived at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, including some elderly prisoners, including a 70-year-old man. Al Jazeera reported that some former detainees wore their shirts inside out to hide the Israeli slogans. The Palestinian Prisoners Club said that 24 released prisoners are expected to be deported. The group said the remaining 345 Palestinians were almost all "Gaza Strip prisoners arrested after October 7." Among the released prisoners, 36 were sentenced to life imprisonment, many of whom had spent more than 20 years in Israeli prisons.

In a statement, Hamas highlighted the difference in treatment between Israeli hostages and released Palestinian detainees. "We condemn the occupier for printing racist slogans on the backs of our heroic prisoners and treating them in a cruel and violent manner, in blatant violation of humanitarian laws and norms," the group said. This statement underscores the ongoing tensions and differing perspectives on the treatment of prisoners by both sides.

Meanwhile, in Israel, hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv to watch the live broadcast of the hostages' release on large screens. People cheered and shed tears of joy when news broke that the Red Cross was about to send the three men to the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. This marked the sixth exchange since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, easing concerns that the ceasefire agreement might collapse before the end of its 42-day first phase.

The first phase of the truce agreement includes the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for hundreds of Palestinian detainees, the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the surrounding areas. Prior to Saturday's exchange, 16 Israeli hostages had been repatriated, and five Thai nationals were released in an unscheduled transfer. Last week, three Israeli hostages were released in exchange for 183 Palestinians.

The six-week truce is intended to pave the way for a second round of talks aimed at securing the release of the remaining hostages and completing the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The third phase of the ceasefire would involve governance and reconstruction plans for Gaza. Hamas had threatened to suspend the release of hostages due to repeated Israeli violations of the agreement, while Israel threatened to resume the war if this happened. However, by Friday, both sides had indicated that the exchange would proceed as planned. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that 92 people had been killed and 822 injured since the start of the truce.