Three Israeli hostages, Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Sasha (Alexander) Troufanov, were released in Gaza on Saturday as part of a negotiated exchange. In return, Israel began releasing 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, a move that helped sustain the ongoing ceasefire.

The handover took place in Khan Younis, where live footage showed the hostages being led onto a stage surrounded by armed Hamas militants before being transferred to Israeli forces. Shortly afterward, the first bus carrying freed Palestinian detainees left Israel’s Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank, arriving in Ramallah to crowds celebrating and waving Palestinian flags.

In Tel Aviv's "Hostage Square," relief and joy erupted as news broke of the Red Cross delivering the three men to Israeli military forces. Unlike some previously released hostages who appeared emaciated, Horn, Dekel-Chen, and Troufanov seemed to be in relatively better condition. Along the roads near Gaza, Israeli residents cheered and waved flags as the hostages were transported home.

Dekel-Chen, a U.S.-Israeli citizen, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. His return is especially poignant as he will meet his newborn daughter for the first time. Troufanov, a Russian-Israeli, was taken along with his mother, grandmother, and girlfriend—all of whom were freed in a previous exchange—while his father was killed during the attack. Argentina-born Horn, 46, was also taken from Nir Oz along with his younger brother, Eitan, who remains in captivity.

"Now, we can breathe a little. Our Iair is home after surviving hell in Gaza. Now, we need to bring Eitan back so our family can truly breathe," Horn’s family said in a statement.

The exchange came amid tensions, with Hamas earlier threatening to halt hostage releases, accusing Israel of blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israel, in response, called up reservists and placed its forces on high alert.

The treatment of hostages has fueled protests in Israel, particularly after three previously freed captives appeared in frail condition. In an attempt to counter criticism, the Islamic Jihad group, which had held Troufanov, released a video showing him fishing and eating at a Gaza beach before his release.

The current ceasefire agreement, in place since January 19, allows for a phased exchange of hostages. Hamas had agreed to release 33 Israeli captives in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees over a six-week truce, with Israel pulling back from certain positions in Gaza.

So far, 19 Israeli and five Thai hostages have been freed, while 73 remain in captivity. Israeli authorities believe that only around half of them are still alive.

The long-term prospects of the ceasefire remain uncertain. The conflict began after Hamas-led attacks on October 7 killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has devastated Gaza, with more than 48,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Palestinian health ministry, and most of the population left homeless.

As negotiations continue, hopes remain for the release of the remaining hostages and steps toward an eventual resolution to the conflict.