Israel confirms 3 hostage to be freed in exchange for 369 Palestinians
female Israeli hostage (not seen) held in Gaza is handed over to Red Cross teams within the scope of the third part of the first phase of the prisoner swap agreement between Hamas and Israel at al-Rezan Square in Jibaliya Refugee Camp in the northern Gaza Strip, Gaza on January 30, 2025. (AA Photo)
Israel has received the names of three hostages set to be released on Saturday as part of an ongoing cease-fire agreement, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The release comes amid escalating tensions over the fragile truce in Gaza.
Hostages identified for release
The three individuals expected to be freed include Israeli-Russian citizen Sasha Trupanov, Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Israeli-Argentinian Yair Horn.
According to Israeli authorities, one of the hostages is currently being held by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, which was involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.
Israel had warned Hamas that it must release three living hostages by this weekend or risk a resumption of the war. Hamas had earlier threatened to pause the hostage releases, citing alleged Israeli violations of the cease-fire agreement in Gaza.
Israel to release 369 Palestinian prisoners
In exchange for the hostages, Israel is set to release 369 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office.
This group includes 36 prisoners serving life sentences and 333 detainees from Gaza who were arrested following the Oct. 7 attack.
The prisoner exchange is part of a broader deal that has been in place since Jan. 19, temporarily halting the war that has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties.
Cease-fire under strain
The cease-fire agreement has faced challenges, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a controversial plan that included the U.S. taking control of Gaza and relocating its population to Egypt or Jordan.
The proposal was met with strong opposition from nations, some of the Arab nations have scheduled a summit in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 20 to discuss the matter.
Amid these developments, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the military to prepare for “voluntary departures” from Gaza, a move that has added to regional tensions.
Red Cross calls for hostage access
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which has facilitated the prisoner exchanges, renewed its calls for access to hostages held in Gaza.
“The latest release operations reinforce the urgent need for ICRC access to those held hostage,” the organization stated on Friday.
Regional reactions and diplomatic efforts
Arab nations have rejected Trump’s proposal for Gaza, emphasizing their stance in an upcoming Arab League meeting on Feb. 27 in Cairo.
Jordan and Egypt, both key regional players, have also dismissed any notion of accepting Palestinian refugees as part of the plan.
The prisoner exchange continues to be a focal point of international diplomacy, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to discuss the cease-fire and ongoing negotiations.
