Hamas has announced plans to release American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, along with two other hostages, on Saturday. This development comes as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.
The other hostages set for release are Russian-Israeli, Alexander Troufanov, and Argentinian-Israeli, Yair Horn. All three were abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz, marking 497 since their captivity.
Saturday’s hostage release was previously cancelled by Hamas, as they asserted key portions of the ceasefire agreement were violated. Upon international pressure, notably from President Trump, Hamas reinstated the original hostage release for Saturday.
This release follows the recent liberation of American-Israeli Keith Siegel, who endured 484 days in captivity under harsh conditions. Siegel credited President Donald Trump for his release and urged continued efforts to free remaining hostages.
The ceasefire agreement, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, has facilitated these hostage releases. In exchange, Israel has agreed to release 369 Palestinian prisoners.
Despite these positive developments, concerns persist about the well-being of hostages still held in Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross has emphasized the urgent need for access to these individuals to assess their health and provide necessary aid.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, advocating for the safe return of all hostages and a lasting resolution to the conflict.
