Hamas Releases Three Hostages Amid Ceasefire Tensions

Hamas has named three hostages set to be freed on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, following days of uncertainty over the ceasefire’s future.  

The individuals to be released are Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, 29, Argentine-Israeli Yair Horn, 46, and US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36. All three were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, when Hamas gunmen launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.  

The Israeli government has warned that it will resume military operations if the hostages are not freed on time. This statement came after Hamas announced it was delaying the release in response to alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.  

Former US President Donald Trump weighed in, stating that the ceasefire should be scrapped if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages by midday Saturday.  

Since the ceasefire began on January 19, a total of 21 hostages—16 Israelis and five Thais—have been freed in exchange for 566 Palestinian prisoners. The agreement outlines that 33 hostages are to be released in total in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.  

Despite diplomatic efforts by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, the ceasefire has remained fragile, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Hamas has alleged that Israel is blocking agreed-upon aid deliveries into Gaza, while Israel has condemned the way hostages have been paraded publicly before their release.  

Meanwhile, violence continues in the region. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that a rocket was fired from Gaza on Thursday but failed and landed within the enclave. Hamas-run police claimed the explosion was caused by an Israeli ordnance detonating while being moved.  

Additionally, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that a 14-year-old boy, Hammoudeh Alaa Saud, was killed in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp on Thursday by what it described as an Israeli explosive device.  

The war, which began on October 7, has resulted in over 48,230 deaths in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Seventy-three hostages taken during the initial attack are still being held, along with three other Israelis who have been in captivity for a decade or longer.  

Chioma Kalu

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