February 15, 2025 – Hamas, today, released three hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza, as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel. 46-year-old Israeli-Argentine Iair Horn, 36-year-old Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen and 29-year-old Israeli-Russian Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov were handed over after first being paraded in front of a large crowd in Gaza. The Red Cross then transported the freed soldiers and handed them over to the Israeli military.

All three had been captured on October 7, 2023, when Hamas had attacked Israel, sparking the Israel-Hamas war. The release of the Israeli hostages was post successful mediation efforts by Egyptian and Qatari officials.

This is the sixth exchange of prisoners since the ceasefire on January 19. This swap agreement will see 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed in exchange for the three Israeli hostages. Among the most prominent Palestinian prisoners set to be freed is Ahmed Barghouti, 48, a close aide of the militant and Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti.

As of now, 21 hostages and more than 730 Palestinian prisoners have been freed in the first phase of the truce.