Three Hostages Set for Release in Sixth Round of Ceasefire Agreement

Edited by: Fern Sidman

According to a report that appeared on Friday on World Israel News (WIN), three hostages held by Gaza-based terrorist groups are set to be released on Saturday as part of the ongoing ceasefire negotiations. A Hamas official confirmed on Friday that the release aligns with the terms of the current ceasefire agreement, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has publicly disclosed the identities of the three hostages who are scheduled for release: Alexandre “Sasha” Troufanov (29), an Israeli-Russian citizen; Sagui Dekel-Chen (36), an Israeli-American; and Yair Horn (46), an Argentinian-Israeli. The PMO emphasized that the names were shared with the full consent of their respective families. WIN has also reported that Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, claimed responsibility for holding Troufanov and has agreed to release him under the current deal.

Israeli officials have warned that military operations will resume if the three hostages are not freed on time. Hamas previously announced delays in hostage releases, citing alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire, as was reported by WIN. However, Israel maintains that it has upheld the terms of the agreement and remains committed to securing the safe return of all hostages.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation earlier this week, urging for an end to the ceasefire if Hamas fails to release all remaining hostages by noon on Saturday, the WIN report indicated. His statement reflects growing international pressure on Hamas to comply with the negotiated terms.

The current hostage release marks the sixth round of exchanges since the ceasefire took effect on January 19. WIN reported that 16 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals have already been freed in return for 566 Palestinian terrorists held in Israeli prisons. This exchange is part of a broader agreement in which a total of 33 hostages are to be released in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has claimed that eight hostages on the exchange list are deceased, although no independent verification has confirmed this claim.

The war began following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, where approximately 1,200 people were brutally murdered, and 251 individuals were kidnapped. 76 hostages remain in Gaza, including 73 taken during the initial attack.

As the ceasefire negotiations continue, Israel remains firm in its stance that if Hamas does not uphold its commitments, military action in Gaza will resume. The WIN report highlighted the critical role of mediators like Qatar and Egypt in attempting to ensure the agreement’s success while calling attention to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the fate of the remaining hostages.

Yelena Tropanov, the mother of Sasha—who is expected to be freed from Hamas captivity tomorrow—has a heartfelt request for Jewish communities around the world. “I ask the people of Israel: Please light Shabbat candles with joy and pray for the swift release of all the hostages,” she urged.

Departing early for the designated meeting point, she made sure to honor her observance of Shabbat—a religious commitment she embraced after experiencing her own release from Hamas captivity.