Israel-Hamas swap: 3 hostages freed amid fragile ceasefire
Hamas released three Israelis, kidnapped on October 7, 2023, as part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Sagi Dekel Chen, Yair Horn, and Aleksander Trufanov were handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip.
On Saturday, the sixth exchange took place, in which Israel is set to release 369 Palestinian prisoners. In previous exchanges, 16 Israeli hostages and 766 Palestinian prisoners have regained their freedom.
Hamas also released five Thai nationals who were kidnapped on October 7, 2023, but they were not part of the ceasefire agreement. Another 70 people remain in captivity.
Temporary ceasefire
The exchange is part of the ongoing temporary ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which started on January 19. In the first stage of the ceasefire, lasting 42 days, the plan is to exchange 33 Hamas hostages for approximately 1,900 Palestinians.
During the attack on October 7, 2023, Hamas kidnapped 251 people, of which 87 are still imprisoned. As a result of the actions of Palestinian groups, approximately 1,200 people were killed. The war that erupted after the attack claimed the lives of over 47,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Strip's health ministry.
Observers point out that the current ceasefire may not withstand the test of time, as the conditions for a permanent truce have not yet been established. There is a risk that fighting may resume if an agreement between the conflicting parties is not reached.
