Latest news with #Argentinian-Israeli
Asharq Al-Awsat
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel, Hamas Complete Their Latest Exchange as Ceasefire's First Phase Has Just 2 Weeks Left
Israel and Hamas completed the sixth exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Saturday with just over two weeks remaining in their fragile Gaza ceasefire's initial phase, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Israel to begin a Middle East tour. The three hostages — Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn, 46; American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen, 36; and Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, 29 — seemed in better condition than the emaciated ones freed a week ago. Troufanov was informed of his father's death in the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the 16-month war. Chen was meeting his youngest daughter for the first time. Horn's brother, Eitan, remains in captivity. Armed gunmen made the pale, worn men speak to a crowd before handing them over to the Red Cross in the southern city of Khan Younis. The 369 Palestinian prisoners were later released. A tense dispute had threatened to derail the ceasefire, but Hamas said Thursday it would move ahead with the planned exchange after it said mediators Egypt and Qatar pledged to "remove all hurdles" so Israel would allow more tents, medical supplies and other essentials into devastated Gaza. US President Donald Trump's proposal to remove Gaza's over 2 million Palestinians and settle them elsewhere in the region also shook the truce. Rubio will hear more about that, starting with his meeting Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump on Saturday posted on social media that "Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O'CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES. The United States will back the decision they make!" Israel has not imposed such a deadline. Netanyahu's office said he would convene the Cabinet as soon as possible to decide on next steps. In the occupied West Bank, released prisoners were greeted by a cheering crowd. Some appeared gaunt, and the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service said four were taken for treatment. Buses transported 333 others to Gaza. The ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19. Before Saturday, 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners had been freed during the truce's first phase. There have not been substantive negotiations over the ceasefire's second phase, in which Hamas would release all remaining hostages in return for ending the war. The three hostages had been abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community hard-hit in the Oct. 7 attack. Horn was taken with his brother, who is not expected to be released in the ceasefire's first phase. "Now, we can breathe a little. Our Iair is home after surviving hell in Gaza," his family said. "Now, we need to bring Eitan back so our family can truly breathe." Chen's wife, Avital Dekel Chen, hid in a safe room with their daughters. She gave birth to their third daughter two months later. She told Israeli media she was overwhelmed with happiness to see her husband back in Israel, where he was meeting his youngest daughter, Shachar. Troufanov was taken hostage with his grandmother, mother and girlfriend. The women were released during a brief ceasefire in November 2023. His family said they were "overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude" Saturday. Of the 251 people abducted during the Oct. 7 attack, 73 remain in Gaza, around half believed to be dead. Nearly all are men, including Israeli soldiers. One hostage, 65-year-old Keith Siegel, said Friday in a video message addressed to Trump that his captors treated him worse as the war intensified, kicking him, spitting on him and holding him without water or light. The released Palestinian prisoners included 36 serving life sentences for involvement in deadly attacks against Israelis. They include Ahmed Barghouti, 48, a close aide of militant leader and iconic Palestinian political figure Marwan Barghouti. Twenty-four of those will be exiled abroad. "When I saw my son, my soul came back to me again and I came back to life," said Om Bashar, mother of Hassan Aweis, sentenced to life in 2002 on charges of voluntary manslaughter, planting an explosive device and attempted murder. Israel also committed to releasing over 1,000 detained from Gaza provided they did not participate in the Oct. 7 attack. The Israeli Prison Service released the Palestinians in sweatshirts emblazoned with a Star of David and the phrase "Never forgive, never forget" in Arabic. Some threw their sweatshirts on the ground and burned them. Truce remains fragile Netanyahu's far-right allies want the war to resume in early March with the goal of destroying Hamas. The group remains in control of the territory after one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history. Hamas may be unwilling to release more hostages if it believes the war will resume. Many Israelis want a deal to bring all remaining hostages home, fearing time is running out. They urge Netanyahu to send a senior-level delegation to talks on the ceasefire's second phase. "Any other decision is sabotage that endangers the lives of the abductees," Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, told Saturday's rally in Tel Aviv. A new challenge is Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, welcomed by Israel's government. It has been rejected by Arab countries and Palestinians, who fear they won't be able to return. Human rights groups say the relocation could amount to a war crime. Trump also proposed that once the war ends, Israel would transfer control of Gaza to the United States, which would redevelop it as the "Riviera of the Middle East." At its height, the war displaced 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million. Hundreds of thousands have returned to their homes during the ceasefire, though many found only rubble, human remains and unexploded ordnance. The war has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hamas Releases Three Hostages, Including One American
American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen, Russian-Israeli Sasha Troufanov and Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn were released by Hamas under the cease-fire deal.
The Hill
15-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Middle East latest: Israel releases over 300 Palestinian prisoners after receiving 3 more hostages
Israel and Hamas completed their sixth exchange of hostages and prisoners on Saturday after their ceasefire survived its latest crisis. Israeli authorities released more than 300 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody after receiving three Israeli men held hostage in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war. The three freed are Iair Horn, 46, Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, and Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29. All are dual nationals. Horn was abducted along with his brother, Eitan, who remains in captivity. Among the most prominent of the Palestinian prisoners released is Ahmed Barghouti, 48, a close aide of militant leader and Palestinian political figure Marwan Barghouti. The two sides have carried out five swaps since the ceasefire began on Jan. 19, freeing 21 hostages and more than 730 Palestinian prisoners so far during the first phase of the truce. The war could resume in early March if no agreement is reached on the more complicated second phase, which calls for the return of all remaining hostages captured in the Oct. 7 attack and an indefinite extension of the truce. Nearly all the 73 remaining hostages are men, including Israeli soldiers, and about half are believed to be dead. Hostage families celebrate their release TEL AVIV, Israel — Chen's wife, Avital, told Israeli media that every Saturday for the past month her daughters have asked her: 'Is Daddy coming home today?' She said she was overwhelmed with happiness to see Sagui back in Israel where he will meet for the first time his youngest daughter Shachar, born while he was in captivity. Chen appeared to be limping as he descended the stage during the hostage release. 'Our hearts ache for everything he missed, but now he's here, unlike many others,' Dekel Chen's family said. Troufanov's family said they were 'overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude' as he crossed into Israeli territory. Before meeting them, Troufanov was informed his father was killed on Oct. 7, 2023. Horn's family joyously put stickers that read 'I'm back!' on sweatshirts bearing photos of the Argentinian-Israeli brothers Eitan and Iair Horn. 'Our Iair is home after surviving hell in Gaza. Now, we need to bring Eitan back so our family can truly breathe,' the family said. In the pub that Horn managed at Kibbutz Nir Oz, dozens of people gathered, raising toasts to the return of the three hostages. Israel begins releasing Palestinian prisoners RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israel is expected to release 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 36 serving life sentences over deadly attacks. Footage showed a busload of prisoners arriving in the occupied West Bank, where they were met by relatives and cheering supporters. Most of those released were transported to Gaza, where a large crowd greeted them in Khan Younis, the same town where the hostages had been released hours earlier. Russian ambassador to Qatar welcomes Trufanov's release Doha — Dmitry Dogadkin said that Trufanov 'was included in the list of hostages to be released in the first, and not the second stage of the agreement between Israel and Hamas, at Russia's request', reported Russian state news agency TASS. He also said: 'According to the leadership of the Palestinian movement, this was done as a sign of respect for our country's position in support of a fair settlement of the Middle East conflict.' Israel confirms receiving the hostages JERUSALEM — Israeli authorities confirmed they received the three Israeli hostages on Saturday after Hamas released them to the Red Cross. They appeared pale and worn but seemed to be in better physical condition than the three men released last Saturday, who had emerged from 16 months of captivity emaciated. Hamas fighters gather ahead of hostage release KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Dozens of masked and armed Hamas fighters have gathered in the southern Gaza Strip for the release of three Israeli hostages. As with previous exchanges, a stage was set up and the area was festooned with Palestinian flags and the banners of militant factions. Nearby was the shell of a heavily damaged multistory building. The militants are expected to parade the hostages before crowds and cameras before handing them over to the Red Cross. The truce is holding, but it's still very fragile The ceasefire appeared dangerously close to collapse in recent days. Hamas said it would delay the release of the hostages after accusing Israel of not adhering to their agreement by not allowing in enough shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment for clearing rubble, while Israel said it would resume fighting Saturday unless hostages were freed. Trump's proposal to remove some 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and settle them elsewhere in the region threw the truce's future into further doubt. The idea has been welcomed by Israel's government, whose far-right members are already calling for a resumption of the war after the first ceasefire phase. But it has been strongly rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries, and human rights groups say it could amount to a war crime under international law. Hamas may be unwilling to release any more hostages if it believes the war will resume. The captives are among the only bargaining chips it has left.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who are Israeli hostages released and rescued from Gaza?
Nineteen hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have so far been released as part of a long-awaited ceasefire deal with Israel, which began on 19 January 2025. Five Thai nationals have also been freed under a separate agreement. Some 15 months after the 7 October 2023 attacks, Israel says 70 of the 251 captives remain unaccounted for, although it believes only 35 of these are still alive. On Saturday 15 February, Hamas released three hostages after days of fears over the future of the ceasefire. They are Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, Argentinian-Israeli Yair Horn, and US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen. Six groups of hostages have been freed since the ceasefire was agreed. A total of 141 hostages have now been freed from captivity, including 81 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals who were released as part of a previous deal between Israel and Hamas that saw a week-long ceasefire in November 2023. Last updated on 15 February 2025 Follow live updates on this story Key events that led to Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal in Gaza Bowen: Israel has changed since Donald Trump's last term - has he? On board aid convoy on its way to offer hope for Gaza Yair Horn, 46, an Argentinian citizen and construction worker, was in Nir Oz at the time of the attack. He has been released but his brother, Eitan, 38, who works in education and was taken at the same time as Yair, remains in Gaza. Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29, was taken hostage with his mother Lena, his partner Sapir Cohen, and his grandmother, Irina Tati. All were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz as they spent the Sabbath together. Irina, Sapir and Lena were released in November 2023. Alexander was freed on 15 February. Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, an American-Israeli citizen, has been missing since Hamas's attack on Nir Oz. Since his abduction, his wife Avital has given birth to their third child, a girl named Shahar. Sagui was released on 15 February. Ohad Ben Ami, 55, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri with his wife, Raz. She was later released by Hamas. Ohad freed on 8 February. Eli Sharabi, 52, was taken from Be'eri with his brother, Yossi, since confirmed dead. Eli's wife and two daughters were murdered in the attack. Ofir Engel, the boyfriend of Yossi's daughter, Yuval, was also taken, but released on 29 November. Eli was released by Hamas on 8 February. Or Levy, 34, fled the festival with his wife Eynav, and phoned his mother to say they were hiding in a bomb shelter. Israeli forces later told the family that Eynav's body had been found in the shelter and that Or had been kidnapped. Or was freed from Gaza on 8 February. Ofer Kalderon, 54, was taken by Hamas from Nir Oz, along with his two children, Erez and Sahar. Two other family members - 80-year-old Carmela Dan and her granddaughter, Noya, 12 - were killed in the attack. In November 2023, Erez and Sahar were released. Ofer was released on 1 February as part of the ceasefire agreement. Yarden Bibas, 34, was abducted from Nir Oz along with his wife, Shiri, and their two young children, Ariel and Kfir. Hamas has claimed that Shiri, Ariel and Kfir were later killed in an Israeli bombing. In a TV interview in June, then-Israeli minister Benny Gantz indicated that the government knew what had happened to the Bibas family, but said it could not provide details yet. Yarden Bibas was released on 1 February. Keith Siegel, 65, and his wife Adrienne - often known as Aviva - Siegel, were taken from their home in Kfar Aza. Adrienne was released in November 2023. Keith was freed on 1 February. Agam Berger, 20, is a soldier who was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military base. She was seen being taken away in videos released by Hamas and was released on 30 January. Arbel Yehud, 29, was abducted from Nir Oz along with her partner, 27-year-old Ariel Cunio and his brother, David. She was freed on 30 January, but Ariel and David remain in captivity. Gadi Moses, 80, was also abducted from Nir Oz, where he worked as an agricultural expert. His partner, Efrat Katz, was killed in the attack. He appeared in a Hamas propaganda video in December 2023, and was also released on 30 January. The five Thai nationals released under a separate agreement on 30 January were Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Seathao, Sathian Suwannakham, Pongsak Thaenna and Surasak Lamnao. Naama Levy, 20, was filmed being bundled into a jeep, her hands tied behind her back. The footage was released by Hamas and circulated widely on social media. According to her mother, the teenager had just begun her military service. Naama was freed on 25 January. Daniela Gilboa, 20, was a soldier based at Kibbutz Nahal Oz. In July 2024 a Hamas hostage video was published, in which she appealed to the Israeli government to bring her and the other hostages home. Daniela was released on 25 January. Karina Ariev, a 20-year-old soldier, was serving at the Nahal Oz army base when she was kidnapped. Her sister Alexandra told the BBC she heard shooting as Karina called her during the attack, and later saw a video showing Karina being taken away in a vehicle. She returned to Israel on 25 January. Liri Albag, 19, had just started military training as an Army lookout at the Nahal Oz base when Hamas attacked. Her family say that she has managed to pass messages back to them through released hostages. Liri was also released on 25 January. Emily Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli nationality, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She was one of the three Israeli women who became the first of the 33 hostages due to be released by Hamas under the ceasefire deal that took effect on 19 January 2025. Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a Romanian-Israeli veterinary nurse, was in her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when Hamas attacked. At 10:30 on 7 October, she sent a voice message to friends: "They've arrived, they have me." Doron was also freed on the first day of the new ceasefire. The third woman to be released was Romi Gonen, 24, who was ambushed as she tried to escape from the Supernova festival. On 27 August 2024, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) rescued Kaid Farhan Elkadi, 52, a father of 11 and grandfather of one, in a "complex operation in the southern Gaza Strip". Mr Elkadi is from a Bedouin village in the Negev desert and had been working as a security guard at Kibbutz Magen when he was abducted. The IDF rescued Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrei Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, in a daylight raid in central Gaza on 8 June 2024. The IDF said they were freed during a "high-risk, complex mission" from two separate buildings in the Nuseirat area. It happened as scores of Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks in the same area. Fernando Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, were rescued during fighting in the city of Rafa, in southern Gaza, on 12 February. Eighty-one Israeli hostages were released during a temporary truce in the last week of November 2023. Amit Soussana, a 40-year-old lawyer who had been abducted from Kfar Aza. After her release she told the New York Times that she had been sexually assaulted by a guard during her captivity. Mia Schem, 21, who holds dual French-Israeli nationality. She appeared in the first hostage video released by Hamas saying that she had been abducted from the Supernova festival. Aisha Zyadna, 16, and her brother Bilal, 18, were released, but their brother Hamza, and their father, Youssef, were killed in captivity. Nili Margalit, 41, a nurse, who had been kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Shani Goren, 29, who had been taken from Nir Oz and later seen by family members in a video posted by Hamas. The granddaughter of Uruguayan nationals, she was granted citizenship following her abduction. Ilana Gritzewsky 30, had been taken hostage from Nir Oz along with her partner, Matan Zanguaker, who remains a hostage. Raya Rotem, 54, was released on 29 November 2023, a few days after her daughter Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13. They had been kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri. Itay Regev, 18, and his sister, Maya Regev, 21, who had been taken from the Supernova music festival. Amit Shani, 16, the only member of his family taken when Hamas gunmen broke into safe room at his home in Kibbutz Be'eri. Also taken from Be'eri was Ofir Engel, 18, an Israeli-Dutch national, who was visiting his girlfriend, Yuval, when Hamas arrived. He was abducted along with Yuval's father, Yossi Sharabi, who was later killed in captivity by an Israeli airstrike. Yossi's brother, Eli Sharabi, was released by Hamas on 8 February 2025 after 15 months in captivity. Gali Tarshansky, 13, had also been kidnapped from Be'eri. Her brother, Lior, was killed in the attack. Yarden Roman-Gat, a 36-year-old German-Israeli citizen, who was abducted from Be'eri. Her husband Alon, and three-year-old Gefen managed to escape. Raz Ben Ami, 57, had been captured at Kibbutz Be'eri along with her husband Ohad, who remains a captive. Moran Stella Yanai, 40, was released on the same day in November 2023. In an interview with the BBC in April 2024, she described how she had coped with her 54-day ordeal. Liat Atzili, 49, a dual US-Israeli citizen was also released. Mia Leimberg, 17, her mother Gabriela, 59, and Mia's aunt Clara Marman, 63 were all released after being kidnapped from Nir Yitzhak. Sapir Cohen, 29, had been kidnapped along with her partner, Sasha Troufanov (who remains a hostage), and his mother and grandmother, Lena Troufanov, 50, and Irena Tati, 73. Both older women held dual Russian-Israeli nationality, and Hamas said their release was a "tribute" to Russian President Vladimir Putin - who refused to condemn the group following the 7 October attacks - and not part of the deal with Israel. Hamas also released another Russian-Israeli on the same grounds. Roni Krivoi, 25, was working as a sound engineer at the Supernova music festival when he was kidnapped. Sharon Aloni Cunio, 34, and her three-year-old twin daughters Ema and Yuly, were released, but David Cunio, Sharon's husband and father of the two girls, remains in Gaza. The four were kidnapped from Nir Oz along with Sharon's sister, Daniele Aloni, and her six-year-old daughter Emilia. Both were also released. Or Yaakov, 16, and his younger brother Yagil, who turned 13 during captivity, were freed, but their father, Yair Yaakov, was killed in the attack. Yair's partner Meirav Tal, 53, was also released. Rimon Buchshtav Kirsht, 36, was taken hostage along with her husband Yagev. She was freed, but he died while being held hostage in Gaza. Siblings Sahar Kalderon, 16, and Erez, 12, were released after being taken by Hamas from Nir Oz. Karina Engel-Bart, 52, and her two daughters Mika Engel, 18, and Yuval Engel, 11, were released. Eitan Yahalomi, 12, was freed but his father, Ohad, who was shot and injured as he tried to defend their family home in Nir Oz, is believed to be a hostage. Follow live: Latest updates Hostages: Who are the three Israeli hostages released by Hamas? In Gaza: Joy fades as Gazans return to ruined homes History behind the story: The Israel-Palestinian conflict Emily Hand, 9, was released after being held in Gaza without any of her family. The Irish-Israeli girl, who went missing from Be'eri, turned nine while she was a hostage. Doron Katz Asher, 34, and her two daughters Raz, four, and Aviv, two, were released after being taken captive near the Gaza border. Hagar Brodutch, 40, was released along with her children Oria, 4, Yuval, 8, and Offri,10. All four had been abducted from their home at Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Also released with the Brodutch family was four-year-old Israeli-American Avigail Idan, whose parents had been attacked and killed. Ohad Munder-Zichri, 9, his mother, Keren Munder, 54, and his grandmother Ruthi Munder, 78, were kidnapped from Nir Oz. Ohad's ninth birthday took place while he was in Gaza. Another family member, Avraham Munder, was killed in captivity. Noam Or, 17, and his sister Alma, 13, were released on 25 November. Their brother, Liam Or, 18, was released a few days later. They had been taken from their home in Be'eri. The body of Yonat, the children's mother, was identified among the 120 people killed at the kibbutz. In May 2024 Be'eri announced that the children's father, Dror - who was initially thought to be a hostage - had also been killed in the attack. Sisters Dafna, 15, and Ela Elyakim, 8, were released after being taken from their home in Nir Oz. They were part of a family group whose capture was livestreamed by the attackers. Chen Almog-Goldstein, 48, and her children Tal, 8, Gal, 11, and Agam, 17, were released. Chen's husband, Nadav, and their 20-year-old daughter, Yam, were killed during Hamas's attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Tamar Metzger, 78, was freed but her husband Yoram was killed in Gaza. His body was later recovered by Israeli troops and brought home. Ditza Heiman, 84, had been abducted from the safe room of her house in Nir Oz. A former social worker, she was one of the Kibbutz's founding members. Her late husband, Zvi Shdaimah had come to the UK on the Kindertransport, the organised rescue of children from Nazi-controlled Europe. Ofelia Adit Roitman, 77, is a former head teacher who had been taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas. Ada Sagi, who turned 75 while in captivity, had been abducted from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Noralin "Nataly" Babadila - or Noralin Agojo in some reports - is 60, and had been visiting Kibbutz Nirim to celebrate the community's 70th anniversary when she was kidnapped by Hamas. Her partner, Gideon, was murdered that day. Hanna Katzir, 77, had abducted from Nir Oz, along with her son, Elad Katzir, 47. Elad's body was recovered by Israeli forces in Khan Younis in April 2024. Channah Peri, 79, was taken hostage along with her son Nadav Popplewell, 51. Nadav's body was recovered by Israeli forces from an underground tunnel in the Khan Younis area in August 2024. Dr Shoshan Haran, 67, had been kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Be'eri. She was released along with her daughter Adi Shoham, 38, and Adi's children, Nave, eight, and Yahel, three. Dr Haran's husband, Avshalom - an economist and dual German-Israeli citizen - was killed in the Hamas attack, while Adi's husband, Tal Shoham, 38, remains in captivity. Also released were Sharon Avigdori, 52, a drama therapist, and her daughter Noam, 12, who are relatives of Dr Haran and were kidnapped from Be'eri at the same time. Yafa Adar, 85, had been kidnapped from Nir Oz. Her grandson Tamir, 38, was killed while defending the kibbutz as part of its emergency squad. Shiri Weiss, 53 and her daughter Noga, 18, had been taken from Be'eri. Shiri is an accountant for the kibbutz's agricultural association. Her husband (and Noga's father), Ilan, was killed during the attack. Adrienne Aviva Seigel, 62, had been taken from her home in Kfar Aza along with her 64-year-old husband Keith, who is still among the hostages. Margalit Mozes, 78, had been abducted from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Adina Moshe, 72, had been kidnapped from Nir Oz. Her husband Said Moshe was killed in the attack. After her release, Elma Avraham, 84, was airlifted to Soroka hospital in Beersheba in a serious condition. She had lived at Kibbutz Nahal Oz for nearly 50 years before she was kidnapped, a spokesman for the community said. What we know about Israel-Hamas hostage deal Prior to the deal struck between Israel and Hamas, four hostages were released, and another was rescued by Israeli forces: Two Americans - Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie Raanan - were released on Friday 20 October 2023 Two elderly women - Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifschitz - were freed on Monday 23 October 2023 An Israeli soldier - Ori Megidish - was freed during ground operations in Gaza on 29 October 2023 Twenty foreign workers were released during the temporary truce of November 2023. Nineteen of these were from Thailand. Boonthom Pankhong, 39, and his girlfriend, Natthawaree Mulakan, were released by Hamas on 24 November. Boonthom's sister Urai Chantachart told BBC Thai that the family was "overjoyed" at the news. It was initially feared Wichai Kalapat was among the Thai nationals killed in the Hamas raid until his girlfriend received word that he was being held hostage in Gaza. She told the BBC she was "so happy" because she did not think he would be among those who were released. Seven other hostages were also released on the same day. Their names are Uthai Thunsri, Buddee Saengboon, Bancha Kongmanee, Withoon Phumee, Mongkhol Phajuabboon, Santi Boonphrom, and Uthai Sangnuan. Natthaphon Onkaew, Khomkrit Chombua were among the four Thai nationals released on 25 November, according to the country's prime minister, Srettha Thavisin. Anucha Angkaew was also freed. His wife, Wanida Maarsa, told BBC Thai that her husband, who had been working on an avocado farm for almost two years, was one of those taken captive by Hamas militants. The fourth person released was Manee Jirachat, who travelled to Israel for work four years ago. He was seized by Hamas along with five other workers who had taken cover together, according to a Thai TV interview with his father, who had spoken to survivors. It was announced on 26 November that Wichian Temthong, Surin Kesungnoen and Phonsawan Pinakalo had been freed. Two more Thai hostages were released on Tuesday 28 November - O-wat Suriyasri and Pattanayuth Tonsokri - and four were released the next day. Their names are Piboon Rattanil, Kong Saelao, Jakrapan Sikena and Chalermchai Sangkaew. Gelienor "Jimmy" Leano Pacheco, 33, from the Philippines, was also released as part of the same deal. The father of three had been working in Israel as a caregiver to 80-year-old Amita Ben Zvi, who was killed in the attack on Nir Oz.
CNN
15-02-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Three Israeli hostages freed after dispute threatened Gaza ceasefire
Three Israeli hostages have been freed from Gaza under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas after a dispute this week threatened to derail the deal. American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Alexandre Troufanov and Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn were released in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, around 10 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET) in the sixth such exchange under the truce. They were seen exiting vehicles surrounded by militants, who ushered the hostages on stage, where the captives addressed the crowd. The men appeared to be in better health than the three hostages released the previous week, whose condition drew condemnation from Israeli officials. The three were given what appeared to be bags carrying memorabilia. Horn was seen carrying what appeared to be small hourglasses and Troufanov appeared to face some difficulty climbing down the stairs. In Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, the atmosphere was expectant and calm as people holding posters watched the releases live. In Kibbutz Nir Oz, where all the three hostages were taken, families gathered to watch the release. Sagui-Dekel Hen's family crowded around the television to watch the moment. Israel has begun freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return. A group of 11 Palestinian prisoners were released in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said. Four prisoners were transported to the hospital upon release, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. The Israeli Prison Service ordered that the quote 'We will not forget, and we will not forgive' to be inscribed on the clothing worn by the released prisoners. Israel is expected to free 369 Palestinian prisoners in total, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said Friday, 333 of whom were arrested in Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. It will be the largest number of Palestinian prisoners released during the exchanges so far. A crowd of armed militants gathered in Gaza ahead of the hostage release, which took place close to the house of slain former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, killed by Israel in October. Images showed masked fighters carrying weapons and gathering around a stage with flags and images depicting Sinwar and other militant leaders. 'No migration except to Jerusalem,' read a banner festooning the stage, in an apparent rebuke to US President Donald Trump and his plans for a mass displacement of Palestinians from the enclave. Earlier this week, Hamas said was postponing today's releases after accusing Israel of violating its commitments to the ceasefire agreement. Amid the dispute, Trump urged Israel to cancel its deal with Hamas and 'let all hell break out' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office thanked Trump for his 'clear and unequivocal' statement, following the hostages' release Saturday, saying it helped push Hamas to back down and free the hostages. In a statement following the latest releases, Hamas said that the only way those still held captive would be freed was 'through negotiations and by adhering to the requirements of the ceasefire agreement.' All three men released on Saturday were kidnapped from the kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attack, and had been held captive for almost 500 days. They are now back on Israeli soil, the Israeli military said. They are currently undergoing an initial medical assessment at a reception center in southern Israel, according to the military. Troufanov was 27 years old when he was kidnapped by Palestinian Al-Quds Brigades, a militant group allied with Islamic Jihad, along with his grandmother, Irena Tati, his mother Lena Troufanov and girlfriend Sapir Cohen, who were all released in a previous deal. His father Vitaly was killed during the attack. Dekel-Chen was 35 years old when he was kidnapped by Hamas while trying to defend the kibbutz from attackers. His wife Avital was pregnant with their third child during the attack, and gave birth to Dekel-Chen's daughter while he was in captivity. She turned one in December. Horn, now 46, was also captured by Hamas with his brother Eitan, who remains in captivity. The Gazan militants have now released a total of 19 Israeli hostages as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, of a total of 33 promised at staggered intervals during this stage. Eight of those 33 are dead, according to the Israeli government. Despite Saturday's releases, uncertainty looms over the future of the wider agreement. Negotiations on extending the ceasefire – which expires on March 1 – are in doubt. As well as taking hostages, Palestinian militants killed more than 1,200 people during the October 7 attack. Israeli bombardment of Gaza since has killed more than 48,000 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, reduced much of the enclave to rubble, and led to a humanitarian catastrophe for surviving residents. The war has spilled over into the wider region, putting Israel in conflict with key Hamas backer Iran, as well as Tehran proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Eugenia Yosef and Ibrahim Dahman contributed reporting.
