Hamas Frees Three Israeli Hostages as Israel Prepares to Release 369 Palestinian Prisoners

Hamas has released three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza’s Khan Yunis on Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange deal, with Israel set to free 369 Palestinian detainees.

The hostages—Alexander Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Yair Horn—were seen being escorted onto a stage by masked Hamas fighters, where they briefly addressed a gathered crowd before being handed over. They called for the continuation of hostage exchanges under the ongoing ceasefire deal.

This marks the sixth exchange since the truce began on January 19, easing concerns about a possible breakdown of negotiations last week. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the deal on Friday, ensuring Saturday’s swap proceeded as planned.

At the event, Hamas fighters stood guard, with the logo of its Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades displayed behind them as Palestinian nationalist songs played.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, an advocacy group, confirmed that Israel will release 369 Palestinian prisoners, with 24 set to be deported. The majority of those being freed are reportedly Gaza residents arrested after October 7.