Latest news with #RussianIsraeli
LBCI
15-02-2025
- LBCI
Three Israeli hostages set to return from Gaza as ceasefire holds
Israeli hostages Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Sasha (Alexander) Troufanov are expected to return from Gaza on Saturday after Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped avert a standoff that threatened to sink a fragile ceasefire. Red Cross vehicles arrived at the Israeli hostage handover site in Gaza's Khan Younis, live footage showed. Palestinian militant group Hamas said the three would be returned in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, easing fears that the agreement could collapse before the end of a 42-day ceasefire. Dekel-Chen, a U.S.-Israeli, Troufanov, a Russian Israeli, and Horn, whose brother Eitan was also abducted, were seized in Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities around the Gaza Strip that Hamas gunmen overran on October 7, 2023. Dozens of armed militants were deployed at the site of the release. The three will be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which will then transport them to Israeli forces. Reuters
Dubai Eye
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Three Israeli hostages freed, Israel begins releasing Palestinians
Israeli hostages Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Sasha (Alexander) Troufanov were freed in Gaza on Saturday and Israel began releasing some 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange, after mediators helped avert a ceasefire collapse. The three were led onto a stage with Hamas membersarmed with automatic rifles standing on each side of them at the site in Khan Younis, live footage showed. The three are being returned in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, a swap which eases fears that the agreement could collapse before the end of a 42-day ceasefire. In what has become known as Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, people broke into cheers and tears when they heard the Red Cross was on its way to deliver the three to Israeli forces in Gaza. They appeared relieved to see the three were in apparently better condition than another three freed last week who appeared emaciated and weak. Dekel-Chen, a US-Israeli, Troufanov, a Russian Israeli, and Horn, whose brother Eitan was also abducted, were seized in Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities around the Gaza Strip that was overrun by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023. Dozens of armed militants were deployed at the site of the release. Some Hamas fighters at the site are carrying rifles seized from the Israeli military during the October 7 attack, Hamas sources said. Troufanov was kidnapped with his mother, grandmother and girlfriend - all of whom were released in the brief November 2023 truce. His father was killed in the attack on Nir Oz, one of the worst hit communities, where one in four people either died or were taken hostage. Hamas had earlier threatened not to release more hostages after it accused Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire by blocking aid from entering Gaza, drawing counterthreats of a resumption of fighting from Israel, which called up reservists and placed its forces on high alert. The emaciated appearance of the three hostages released last week and accounts of abuse by other hostages released since January 19 when the ceasefire took effect have set off Israeli protests demanding that the government stick to the ceasefire and proceed with the next stage of the deal to bring all the hostages home. In an apparent effort to head off some of the criticism of hostage mistreatment, Islamic Jihad, the militant group that is allied with Hamas and is holding Troufanov, released a video of him on Friday, showing him eating and fishing at the Gaza beach. Prospects for the ceasefire surviving have also been clouded by US President Donald Trump's call for Palestinians to be moved permanently out of Gaza, and for the enclave to be turned over to the United States to be redeveloped. That call was strongly rejected by Palestinian groups, Arab states and Western allies. Hamas agreed last month to hand over 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children and sick, wounded and older men, in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, during a six-week truce during which Israeli forces would pull back from some of their positions in Gaza. Before Saturday, 16 of the 33 Israeli hostages had been returned, along with five Thais who were handed over in an unscheduled release. That left 76 hostages still in Gaza, only around half of whom are thought to be alive. The truce was intended to open the way for a second phase of negotiations to return remaining hostages and complete the withdrawal of Israeli forces before a final end to the war and the rebuilding of Gaza, which now lies largely in ruins, facing shortages of food, running water and electricity.
CBC
15-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
3 Israeli hostages released in Gaza as ceasefire holds
Social Sharing Israeli hostages Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Sasha Troufanov arrived at a release site in Gaza on Saturday after Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped avert a standoff that threatened to sink a fragile ceasefire. The three were led onto a stage with militants armed with automatic rifles standing on each side of them at the site in Khan Younis, live footage showed. They are being returned in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, a swap which eases fears that the agreement could collapse before the end of a 42-day ceasefire. Dekel-Chen, a 36-year-old American Israeli, Troufanov, a 29-year-old Russian Israeli, and Horn, a 46-year-old Argentinian Israeli whose brother Eitan was also abducted, were seized in Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities around the Gaza Strip that was overrun by Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7, 2023. Dozens of armed militants were deployed at the site of the release. Some Hamas fighters at the site are carrying rifles seized from the Israeli military during the Oct. 7 attack, Hamas sources said. Troufanov was kidnapped with his mother, grandmother and girlfriend, all of whom were released in the brief November 2023 truce. His father was killed in the attack on Nir Oz, one of the worst hit communities, where one in four people either died or were taken hostage. EARLIER | Hostages in Saturday's release include American Israeli and Russian Israeli: Israel, hostage families told names of 3 to be released 18 hours ago Duration 5:58 Palestinian militant groups in Gaza say they will release hostages Iair Horn, American Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen and Russian Israeli Alexandre Sasha Troufanov on Saturday, in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire with Israel. Hamas had earlier threatened not to release more hostages after it accused Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire by blocking aid from entering Gaza, drawing counterthreats of a resumption of fighting from Israel, which called up reservists and placed its forces on high alert. The emaciated appearance of three hostages released last week and accounts of abuse by other hostages released since January 19 when the ceasefire took effect has set off Israeli protests demanding that the government stick to the ceasefire and proceed with the next stage of the deal to bring all the hostages home. In an apparent effort to head off some of the criticism of hostage mistreatment, Islamic Jihad, the militant group that is allied with Hamas and was holding Troufanov, released a video of him on Friday, showing him eating and fishing at the Gaza beach. Prospects for the ceasefire surviving have also been clouded by U.S. President Donald Trump's call for Palestinians to be moved permanently out of Gaza, and for the enclave to be turned over to the United States to be redeveloped. That call was strongly rejected by Palestinian groups, Arab states and Western allies. Hamas agreed last month to hand over 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children and sick, wounded and older men, in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, during a six-week truce during which Israeli forces would pull back from some of their positions in Gaza. Before Saturday, 16 of the 33 Israeli hostages had been returned, along with five Thais who were handed over in an unscheduled release. That left 76 hostages still in Gaza, only around half of whom are thought to be alive. WATCH | Ex-ambassadors speak about growing fragility of ceasefire deal: On Saturday, Hamas is expected to release three more Israeli hostages in exchange for the safe return of 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It would be the sixth hostage-prisoner swap of the ceasefire, and it wasn't certain that it would happen. Power & Politics hears from two former Canadian ambassadors, Jon Allen and Arif Lalani, about the growing fragility of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. The truce was intended to open the way for a second phase of negotiations to return remaining hostages and complete the withdrawal of Israeli forces before a final end to the war and the rebuilding of Gaza, which now lies largely in ruins, facing shortages of food, running water and electricity. The Hamas threat to hold off from releasing more hostages followed its accusation that Israel had blocked tents and temporary shelter materials from entering into Gaza, leaving tens of thousands exposed to the winter cold. Israel rejected the accusation, saying it had allowed thousands of aid trucks in, and accusing Hamas in its turn of reneging on the agreement. Hamas on Saturday said it expects Israel to meet its aid obligations for the ceasefire to stay on track. International aid groups say that more truckloads of aid have been entering Gaza since the start of the ceasefire but aid officials say the amounts are insufficient to meet the needs of the population. Israel invaded the coastal enclave after the Hamas-led attack on communities in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and taking 251 as hostages.
MTV Lebanon
15-02-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Three Israeli Hostages Released in Gaza as Ceasefire Holds
Israeli hostages Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Sasha (Alexander) Troufanov arrived at a release site in Gaza on Saturday after Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped avert a standoff that threatened to sink a fragile ceasefire. The three were led onto a stage with militants armed with automatic rifles standing on each side of them at the site in Khan Younis, live footage showed. The three are being returned in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, a swap which eases fears that the agreement could collapse before the end of a 42-day ceasefire. In what has become known as Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, people broke into cheers and tears when they heard the Red Cross was on its way to deliver the three to Israeli forces in Gaza. They appeared relieved to see the three were in apparently better condition than another three freed last week who appeared emaciated and weak. Dekel-Chen, a U.S.-Israeli, Troufanov, a Russian Israeli, and Horn, whose brother Eitan was also abducted, were seized in Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities around the Gaza Strip that was overrun by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023. Dozens of armed militants were deployed at the site of the release. Some Hamas fighters at the site are carrying rifles seized from the Israeli military during the October 7 attack, Hamas sources said. Troufanov was kidnapped with his mother, grandmother and girlfriend - all of whom were released in the brief November 2023 truce. His father was killed in the attack on Nir Oz, one of the worst hit communities, where one in four people either died or were taken hostage. Hamas had earlier threatened not to release more hostages after it accused Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire by blocking aid from entering Gaza, drawing counterthreats of a resumption of fighting from Israel, which called up reservists and placed its forces on high alert. The emaciated appearance of the three hostages released last week and accounts of abuse by other hostages released since January 19 when the ceasefire took effect have set off Israeli protests demanding that the government stick to the ceasefire and proceed with the next stage of the deal to bring all the hostages home. In an apparent effort to head off some of the criticism of hostage mistreatment, Islamic Jihad, the militant group that is allied with Hamas and is holding Troufanov, released a video of him on Friday, showing him eating and fishing at the Gaza beach. Prospects for the ceasefire surviving have also been clouded by U.S. President Donald Trump's call for Palestinians to be moved permanently out of Gaza, and for the enclave to be turned over to the United States to be redeveloped. That call was strongly rejected by Palestinian groups, Arab states and Western allies. Hamas agreed last month to hand over 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children and sick, wounded and older men, in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, during a six-week truce during which Israeli forces would pull back from some of their positions in Gaza. Before Saturday, 16 of the 33 Israeli hostages had been returned, along with five Thais who were handed over in an unscheduled release. That left 76 hostages still in Gaza, only around half of whom are thought to be alive.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Three Israeli hostages set to return from Gaza as ceasefire holds
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli hostages Iair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Sasha Troufanov are expected to return from Gaza on Saturday after Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped avert a standoff that threatened to sink a fragile ceasefire that has halted fighting for almost a month. Palestinian militant group Hamas said the three would be returned, in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, easing fears that the agreement could collapse before the end of a 42-day ceasefire. Dekel-Chen, a U.S.-Israeli, Troufanov, a Russian Israeli, and Horn, whose brother Eitan was also abducted, were seized in Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities around the Gaza Strip that was overrun by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Hamas had earlier threatened not to release more hostages after it accused Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire by blocking aid from entering Gaza, drawing counterthreats of a resumption of fighting from Israel, which called up reservists and placed its forces on high alert. Israelis were angered by the emaciated appearance and accounts of mistreatment of three hostages released last week but there were also large protests demanding that the government keep going with the deal to bring all the hostages home. Prospects for the ceasefire surviving were also clouded by U.S. President Donald Trump's call for Palestinians to be moved permanently out of Gaza, and for the enclave to be turned over to the United States to be redeveloped, a call that was strongly rejected by Palestinian groups and Arab states. Hamas agreed last month to hand over 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children and older men, in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, during a six-week truce during which Israeli forces would pull back from some of their positions in Gaza. Before Saturday, 16 of the 33 Israeli hostages had been returned, along with five Thais who were handed over in an unscheduled release. That left 76 hostages still in Gaza, only around half of whom are thought to be alive. GAZA LARGELY IN RUINS The truce was intended to open the way for a second phase of negotiations to return remaining hostages and complete the withdrawal of Israeli forces before a final end to the war and the rebuilding of Gaza, which now lies largely in ruins, facing shortages of food, running water and electricity. The Hamas threat to hold off from releasing more hostages followed its accusation that Israel had blocked tents and temporary shelter materials from entering into Gaza, leaving tens of thousands exposed to the winter cold. Israel rejected the accusation, saying it had allowed thousands of aid trucks in, and accusing Hamas in its turn of reneging on the agreement. International aid groups say that more truckloads of aid have been entering Gaza since the start of the ceasefire but aid officials say the amounts are insufficient to meet the needs of the population. Israel invaded the coastal enclave after the Hamas-led attack on communities in Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and taking more than 250 as hostages. The Israeli military campaign that followed has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Palestinian health ministry figures, destroyed many of its buildings and left most of the population homeless.
