- Hamas names 3 hostages to be freed on Saturday
- Israel warns of resumed bombing if hostages not released
- Ceasefire under strain amid reciprocal actions
Hamas has announced the release of three hostages who are set to be freed on Saturday as part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The hostages include Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, Argentinian-Israeli Yair Horn, and US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen.
The announcement came after days of uncertainty regarding the future of the ceasefire, with Israel warning that it would resume bombing if the hostages were not released on time. The warning followed a statement from Hamas, which indicated it was postponing the release of the hostages in response to what it described as Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.
In response to the situation, former President Trump has urged that the ceasefire be scrapped if Hamas does not release all the hostages held in Gaza by midday on Saturday.
Since the ceasefire began on 19 January, 16 Israeli and five Thai hostages have been released in exchange for 566 Palestinian prisoners. The first phase of the ceasefire, which is expected to last six weeks, involves the release of a total of 33 hostages in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel.
The war, which started on 7 October 2023, followed a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. Since then, the Israel offensive on Gaza has claimed more than 48,230 lives, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
The ceasefire has been fragile, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Intense diplomatic efforts from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have worked to prevent the collapse of the ceasefire.
Israel has expressed frustration over the manner in which hostages have been released, as many have been displayed publicly on platforms alongside gunmen and in front of crowds before being handed over to the Red Cross in chaotic scenes. Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Israel of preventing the entry of necessary aid into Gaza, including tents and aid lorries, as outlined in the ceasefire terms.
