Three Hostages To Be Freed Today As Ceasefire Tensions Show Signs Of Easing

Israel reported on Friday that it had been given the names of three hostages who are to be released by militants in a prisoner swap for Palestinian detainees this weekend. The hostages Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen, Israeli-Russian Sasha Trupanov, and Israeli-Argentinian Yair Horn have been detained in Gaza since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the current war.

The ceasefire, established on January 19, has again come under pressure after the inflammatory suggestion by US President Donald Trump to move Gaza’s population to Egypt or Jordan, a move roundly dismissed by Arab countries. The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE will meet in Riyadh to address the crisis, with the Arab League meeting in Cairo later this month.

The release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners has brought temporary comfort to affected families, but the poor health of released captives has raised international alarm. The International Committee of the Red Cross has called for greater access to hostages and more respectful handovers, after allegations of mistreatment. Israeli-American hostage Keith Siegel, released earlier, spoke of surviving almost 500 days in deplorable conditions, with physical and psychological abuse.

The tensions rose further when Trump threatened that “hell” would erupt if Hamas did not free all remaining hostages by Saturday. Israel later made its position firmer, calling for the release of three living hostages or face a return to military operations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is meanwhile scheduled to arrive in Israel to hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas said that negotiations for the next stage of the truce, in which further hostage releases are secured and work to bring an end to the war is pursued, could start next week.