ReutersHamas released three Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, in the last swap under the ceasefire coordinated by Israel and the militant group last month.
Three hostages transmitted on Saturday are the American-Israel Sagui Dekel-Chan, 36, Argentine-Israeli Yair Horn, 46 years old, and Russian-Israeli Alexander Khstanov, 29.
In return, 369 Palestinians who took place in Israeli prison were released.
So far, 19 hostages, which took place in Gaza and more than 1000 Palestinian prisoners, were released as part of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, 2025.
By the end of the first six -week transaction stage, 33 hostages and 1900 prisoners were expected.
On Saturday, in the sixth swap from last month, Israeli hostages were transferred to Khan Yunis in the southern lane.
Surrounded by Hamas’s strongly armed militants, the men briefly turned to the Palestinian crowd before being transferred to the Red Cross vehicles.
They did not look the same as hostages released a week earlier – their appearance caused anger in Israel and elsewhere.
Three men were transferred to military helicopters to a hospital in Central Israel, where they will undergo medical tests and reunite with relatives.
Israeli President Isaac Duke, posing in the social media, said the hostages were “forced to survive” a “contemptible and cynical ceremony”.
In a social media report, Israel’s Defense Minister said Israel would continue to work with the US to “ensure that all hostages will return to Israel soon.”
Most of the Palestinians released were taken to gas, although some were taken to the west shore. In both areas, the crowds gathered to welcome former prisoners.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society told the BBC that five of those who liberated Ramala in the city of Western shore were taken right to the hospital.
“All of them have chronic diseases,” said Mohammad Faki, an official from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, adding that one person had a broken leg.
Most of the 36 Palestinians who are serving lifetime will be deported to Egypt.
ReutersEarlier this week, Hamas threatened to detain the hostage release after Israel’s charges in violation of the terms of the agreement that Israel refused.
Israel, supported by US President Donald Trump, said that “intense” struggles would be recovered if the hostages are not transferred.
Recent issues mean that Hamas’s ceasefire is related to free 14 hostages.
However, Israel says that eight of them are dead, that is, six live Israeli still must be returned in the first stage.
Currently, 141 hostages were released, including 81 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals issued as part of a previous transaction between Israel and Hamas.
About 1,200 people were killed and 251 returned to gas as hostages when Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
This caused a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, the Ministry of Health Hamas reports.
