Latest news with #IsraeliArgentinian
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
American-Israeli hostage ‘born again' after Hamas release: Father
(NewsNation) — American-Israeli hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen was released by Hamas on Saturday after nearly 500 days in captivity. His father, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, said his son has been 'born again' after his release, adding that it's now time for his son to get treatment and heal from the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. 'He's been, in a sense, sort of born again as a human being in the world that we inhabit, and that's joyous,' he said. 'It's joyous for himself. It's joyous for his wife, his three little girls, and our family, our community near us.' 500 days of the Israel-Hamas war, by the numbers Sagui Dekel-Chen was among the three men released in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Saturday in the latest victory for the fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. 'I have my son back. We have light back in our lives,' said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, recalling the moment he saw his son return home. 'To see him, and mostly, to see his eyes, was a moment I will never forget for the rest of my days. Since he was a little kid, he speaks with his eyes. From the second that I saw him in person, not just via camera, from the handoff in Gaza, my son was back after 500 days in hell. Glad to have him back.' Jonathan Dekel-Chen added that his son will need to undergo 'a lot of of recovering rehabilitation' from his wounds because he didn't receive proper medical attention. Hamas also released Israeli Argentinian Iair Horn and Russian Israeli Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed. Chen was among the last remaining living Americans held in captivity. The State Department noted that Hamas still holds 73 hostages, including New Jersey native Edan Alexander, who had recently graduated high school, and the remains of four additional Americans who were killed in Gaza. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
American Sagui Dekel Chen is home after being released by Hamas: Rubio
American Sagui Dekel Chen is 'home and safe' with his family, one day after he was released by Hamas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Sunday. Chen was among the three men released in Khan Younis on Saturday in the latest victory for the fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Hamas also released Israeli Argentinian Iair Horn and Russian Israeli Alexander Troufanov, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed. All three men were taken from kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, where they killed around 1,200 Israelis and took some 250 people captive. 'President Trump keeps delivering on his promise to bring Americans home. Sagui Dekel Chen and two other hostages have been released by Hamas in Gaza after nearly 500 days of horrific captivity,' Rubio said in a statement on Sunday. 'I am grateful that they are back home and safe with their families,' he added. Chen was among the last remaining living Americans held in captivity. The State Department noted that Hamas still holds 73 hostages, including New Jersey native Edan Alexander, who had just graduated high school, and the remains of four additional Americans who were killed in Gaza. 'They must ALL come home NOW,' Rubio continued in his official statement. 'The fact that these terrorists continue to hold hostages and even dead bodies reflects their sick depravity. I call on our partners to help impress upon Hamas' leaders that they are playing with fire.' In a post on the social platform X, Rubio added: 'Sagui is home! American Sagui Dekel Chen and two more hostages were released by Hamas in Gaza thanks to @POTUS' strength and leadership.' 'STAY STRONG EDAN – we will have you home soon!' he wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
16-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
American Sagui Dekel Chen is home after being released by Hamas: Rubio
American Sagui Dekel Chen is 'home and safe' with his family, one day after he was released by Hamas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Sunday. Chen was among the three men released in Khan Younis on Saturday in the latest victory for the fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Hamas also released Israeli Argentinian Iair Horn and Russian Israeli Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed. All three men were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, when they killed around 1,200 Israelis and took some 250 people captive. 'President Trump keeps delivering on his promise to bring Americans home. Sagui Dekel Chen and two other hostages have been released by Hamas in Gaza after nearly 500 days of horrific captivity,' Rubio said in a statement on Sunday. 'I am grateful that they are back home and safe with their families,' he added. Chen was among the last remaining living Americans held in captivity. The State Department noted that Hamas still holds 73 hostages, including New Jersey native Edan Alexander, who had just graduated high school, and the remains of four additional Americans who were killed in Gaza. 'They must ALL come home NOW,' Rubio continued in his official statement. 'The fact that these terrorists continue to hold hostages and even dead bodies reflects their sick depravity. I call on our partners to help impress upon Hamas' leaders that they are playing with fire.' In a post on the social platform X, Rubio added: 'Sagui is home! American Sagui Dekel Chen and two more hostages were released by Hamas in Gaza thanks to @POTUS' strength and leadership.' 'STAY STRONG EDAN – we will have you home soon!' he wrote.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump lauds latest hostage release, says US will support Israel's decision on ceasefire
President Trump on Saturday celebrated the latest hostage release, when Hamas freed the last living Israeli American from captivity in Gaza, but warned the Palestinian militant group that the U.S. will support Israel's decision on whether the fragile ceasefire continues. 'Hamas has just released three Hostages from GAZA, including an American Citizen. They seem to be in good shape!' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. 'This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any Hostages.' '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,' he continued. 'The United States will back the decision they make.' Three more hostages were released in Khan Yunis in the latest exchange, including Israeli Argentinian Iair Horn, 46, Israeli American Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, and Russian-Israeli Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov. In return, Israel is set to free 369 Palestinian prisoners, including a number of those who served life sentences. Saturday's release marks the sixth complete exchange since the pause in fighting began on Jan. 19. Hamas, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S., threatened to delay the release of Israeli hostages earlier this week, and accused the Jewish state of violating the terms of the fragile ceasefire. The group said Monday that the violations were 'delaying the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip, targeting them with shelling and gunfire in various areas of the Strip, and not allowing the entry of relief supplies in all their forms according to what was agreed upon.' Trump then issued a warning to the group, pressing them to release the remaining hostages held in the Strip by noon local time or he would end the brittle ceasefire. He claimed at the time that 'all hell is going to break out' if they are not freed. In line with the U.S. president, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also cautioned the militant group that the temporary truce in Gaza would be shattered and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which he ordered to amass in and around the war-torn enclave, would restart their fight until Hamas is eviscerated. 'The decision I passed in the Cabinet unanimously is as follows: If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense combat until Hamas is decisively defeated,' Netanyahu said Tuesday. Hamas did confirm on Thursday that it would go ahead with freeing the three hostages. It is unclear if the rest of the captives held in Gaza will be released later Saturday. Israel and Hamas are in the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire that is slated to last for six weeks. The terms of the second phase, where more Palestinian prisoners are meant to be freed, have not been brokered entirely. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
15-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump lauds latest hostage release, says US will support Israel's decision on ceasefire
President Trump on Saturday celebrated the latest hostage release, when Hamas freed the last living Israeli American from captivity in Gaza, but warned the Palestinian militant group that the U.S. will support Israel's decision on whether the fragile ceasefire continues. 'Hamas has just released three Hostages from GAZA, including an American Citizen. They seem to be in good shape!' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. 'This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any Hostages.' '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,' he continued. 'The United States will back the decision they make.' Three more hostages were released in Khan Yunis in the latest exchange, including Israeli Argentinian Iair Horn, 46, Israeli American Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, and Russian-Israeli Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov. In return, Israel is set to free 369 Palestinian prisoners, including a number of those who served life sentences. Saturday's release marks the sixth complete exchange since the pause in fighting began on Jan. 19. Hamas, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S., threatened to delay the release of Israeli hostages earlier this week, and accused the Jewish state of violating the terms of the fragile ceasefire. The group said Monday that the violations were 'delaying the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip, targeting them with shelling and gunfire in various areas of the Strip, and not allowing the entry of relief supplies in all their forms according to what was agreed upon.' Trump then issued a warning to the group, pressing them to release the remaining hostages held in the Strip by noon local time or he would end the brittle ceasefire. He claimed at the time that 'all hell is going to break out' if they are not freed. In line with the U.S. president, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also cautioned the militant group that the temporary truce in Gaza would be shattered and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which he ordered to amass in and around the war-torn enclave, would restart their fight until Hamas is eviscerated. 'The decision I passed in the Cabinet unanimously is as follows: If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense combat until Hamas is decisively defeated,' Netanyahu said Tuesday. Hamas did confirm on Thursday that it would go ahead with freeing the three hostages. It is unclear if the rest of the captives held in Gaza will be released later Saturday. Israel and Hamas are in the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire that is slated to last for six weeks. The terms of the second phase, where more Palestinian prisoners are meant to be freed, have not been brokered entirely.
