CNN
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Three Israeli captives have been released from Gaza following a ceasefire agreement facilitated between Israel and Hamas. This development comes after ongoing tensions that almost jeopardized the arrangement earlier this week.

The individuals freed include Sagui Dekel-Chen, an American-Israeli; Alexandre Troufanov, a Russian-Israeli; and Iair Horn, an Argentinian-Israeli. They were liberated in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, around 10 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET) as part of the sixth exchange under the truce. Witnesses reported seeing the hostages disembark vehicles amid a gathering of militants, who helped them to a stage where they addressed the audience.

Compared to the previous week’s releases, these men appeared to be in noticeably better health. The earlier group had faced significant health concerns, drawing sharp criticism from Israeli officials.

Upon their release, the men were seen carrying bags that appeared to contain memorabilia. Horn was spotted with small hourglasses, and Troufanov seemed to have some difficulty navigating the stairs.

The atmosphere in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square was one of anticipation as individuals holding signs followed the live coverage of the release. In Kibbutz Nir Oz, where the three hostages were initially taken, families gathered around televisions to witness the event unfold. Sagui Dekel-Chen’s family watched closely together.

Concurrently, Israel has initiated the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees. The Palestinian Prisoner Society reported the liberation of a group of 11 Palestinian prisoners in the occupied West Bank, with four of them requiring hospitalization upon their release, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

The Israeli Prison Service instructed that the phrase “We will not forget, and we will not forgive” be printed on the clothing of the freed prisoners.

In total, Israel is poised to release 369 Palestinian prisoners, as noted by the Palestinian Prisoner Society on Friday. Among them, 333 were apprehended in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. This will mark the highest number of Palestinian prisoners released during these exchanges thus far.

A gathering of armed militants assembled in Gaza prior to the hostage release, which occurred near the residence of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader slain by Israeli forces in October. Images circulated of masked fighters displaying weaponry and congregating around a stage adorned with flags and portraits of Sinwar and other militant figures.

A banner reading “No migration except to Jerusalem” hung over the stage, seemingly in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans regarding the relocation of Palestinians from the enclave.

Earlier in the week, Hamas announced a postponement of the hostage releases, claiming Israel had breached its end of the ceasefire agreement. Amid this tension, Trump advocated for Israel to reconsider its accord with Hamas and suggested that they “let all hell break loose.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office expressed gratitude to Trump for his “clear and unequivocal” remarks, asserting that they played a role in urging Hamas to acquiesce and release the hostages.

In a statement after the recent hostage releases, Hamas indicated that the only path for the remaining captives to be set free was through “negotiations and adherence to the ceasefire agreement’s conditions.”

The three men who were released on Saturday had been abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 raid and had endured nearly 500 days in captivity.

According to the Israeli military, they have now returned to Israeli territory and are currently undergoing initial medical evaluations at a reception facility in southern Israel.

At the time of his abduction, Troufanov was 27 years old and was seized by the Palestinian Al-Quds Brigades, an organization aligned with Islamic Jihad. His grandmother, mother, and girlfriend were all released in a prior deal, while his father was killed during the incident.

Dekel-Chen, now 35, was captured by Hamas while defending the kibbutz. During his absence, his wife, Avital, who was pregnant with their third child, gave birth to their daughter in his absence, who turned one last December.

Horn, now 46, was also taken by Hamas along with his brother Eitan, who remains in captivity.

To date, Gazan forces have released a total of 19 Israeli hostages as part of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement, out of a total of 33 expected to be released in sporadic exchanges throughout this stage. Of these 33, eight are confirmed deceased, according to the Israeli government.

Even with Saturday’s releases, considerable uncertainty surrounds the future of the broader agreement. Ongoing discussions regarding the extension of the ceasefire—due to expire on March 1—are currently in jeopardy.

In addition to taking hostages, Palestinian militants were responsible for over 1,200 fatalities during the attack on October 7. The subsequent Israeli bombings in Gaza have led to more than 48,000 deaths, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, leaving much of the region in ruins and resulting in a humanitarian crisis for those who survived.

The ongoing conflict has extended beyond these borders, drawing Israel into confrontations with major Hamas ally Iran, along with Tehran’s proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.