On February 15, 2025, Hamas released three Israeli hostages, marking the sixth exchange since the ceasefire began on January 19. The freed individuals are Sagui Dekel-Chen, a 36-year-old American-Israeli citizen; Alexander Troufanov, a 29-year-old Russian-Israeli citizen; and Yair Horn, a 46-year-old Argentinian-Israeli citizen. The exchange took place in Khan Younis, Gaza.
Heightened tensions in the preceding week nearly derailed this latest swap. However, mediation efforts ensured the release proceeded as planned.
In return for the hostages, Israel released 369 Palestinian prisoners. The majority of those freed were detainees from Gaza (Hamas) apprehended since October 7, 2023, marking the largest release of Palestinian prisoners during the ongoing exchanges. To date, these six swaps have resulted in the release of 25 hostages and over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The released hostages were originally taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, attack.
A brief ceremony marked the release, with militants escorting the hostages to a stage displaying a banner rejecting the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. The hostages held certificates and gift bags.
Discussions are currently underway regarding the potential extension of the ceasefire, which is set to expire on March 1. However, significant divisions remain, and the future of the truce is uncertain.
Notably, eight of the 33 hostages initially slated for release are now presumed dead. This underscores the complexities and human cost of the ongoing conflict.
