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Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Three hostages -- American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Alexandre Troufanov and Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn -- on Saturday were released by militant Hamas in exchange for 369 prisoners. After the sixth handoff since the cease-fire on Jan. 25, Hamas has now released 19 Israeli hostages as part of the first phase of the cease-fire agreement. Eight of the 33 promised hostages are dead, according to the Israeli government.
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Compared with the previous release seven days ago, these men appeared to look in better health.
The were kidnapped from the kibbutz Nir Oz during the attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and had been held captive for almost 500 days.
The men were given to the Red Cross, who transported them to Israeli Defense Forces soldiers at a second location within the Gaza Strip. Then they went to Israel for initial medical checks and to reunite with their families.
Families in Kibbutz Nir Oz gathered to watch the release. Horn also handed an hourglass featuring images of hostage Matan Zangauker and his mother, Einav, with text reading: "Time is running out."
The three hostages were holding an embroidery showing a map of the claimed borders of Palestine.
Hamas gunmen were wearing IDF uniforms and held Israeli weapons stolen on Oct. 7.
Some Palestinians were ordered to wear clothes provided by the Israeli Prison Service with the quote "We will not forget, and we will not forgive" inscribed next to a Star of David. Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, called it a "flagrant violation of all international and humanitarian laws."
The International Committee of the Red Cross criticized Hamas and Israel over their conduct at the sixth swap, saying in a statement it "continues to raise its concerns about the way hostage and detainee releases are carried out. Despite repeatedly calling for all transfers to be carried out in a dignified and private manner, more must be done by all sides, including the mediators, to improve future transfers."
Hamas originally postpone the releases after accusing Israel of violating commitments to the cease-fire agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump then said "let all hell break out" of the release doesn't happen.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office thanked Trump for his "clear and unequivocal" statement, saying it helped push Hamas to back down and free the hostages.
Who are the freed hostages?
Troufanov, 27, 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 released previouslyl. His father Vitaly was killed during the attack, and he was informed about it.
He wrote on a whiteboard: "Thanks to everyone who joined the struggle for this entire period for my release and for the rest of the hostages that were sent home today with me. Thanks to those who supported my mother throughout this difficult period. I wish for the return of the rest of the hostages that are still left in Gaza as soon as possible, and not to leave anyone behind!!!"
Troufanov, an engineer at Amazon, immigrated to Israel from the Soviet Union.
Dekel-Chen, 35, was taken 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 in captivity in December 2023. Dekel-Chen was informed he has a third daughter and his wife said her name is Shachar.
"There's no place like home," Dekel-Chen was heard telling medical staff.
His father Jonathan lives in New York.
Horn, 46, was also captured by Hamas with his brother Eitan, who remains in captivity.
"Eitan, you're next!" he wrote on a whiteboard.
Horn asked for the helicopter to make a detour over Turner Stadium, where is favorite soccer team, Hapoel Beersheba, plays.
Who are the released prisoners?
Saturday's exchanged involved the largest number of prisoners released.
Those freed included 36 terrorists serving life sentences for murdering dozens. The others were detained in Gaza after the war started.
Buses believed to be containing the Palestinian detainees entered Gaza from Kerem Shalom into Rafah, and headed to a hospital in Khan Younis where large crowds were waiting. Earlier Saturday, 36 Palestinians were released to the occupied West Bank, including 24 who were later exiled to Egypt.
Like other freed prisoners, Hassan Awais was carried through the street by family and supporters.
"I left my children as infants," he said. "They don't know me. Now they're grown up and taller than me. This is a feeling that can't be described."
He was arrested in 2002.
The Israeli Prison Service said he was convicted of offenses including "intentional death, planting an explosive device and attempted murder."
Suha Abu Nada' father who was detained around six months ago.
"My mother died when I was a child so he raised me and then the Israelis took him from me," she said. crying.
After phase one ends
The cease-fire expires on March 1.
The second stage of the multi-phase agreement would secure the release of around 60 male hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is calling on Netanyahu to immediately convene the security cabinet to move ahead on the second phase.
Israel's Channel 12 reported Netanyahu wants to expedite the release of six more hostages who are currently scheduled for release on the coming two Saturdays.
Then he reportedly wants the agreement extended past 42 days and secure the freedom of more hostages as part of phase one.
The release of prisoners would coincide with next month's Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The proposed final phase includes the return of the remains of dead hostages and a major reconstruction plan for Gaza, which involves the United States and Arab nations working with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to ensure Hamas is not able to rearm itself.
Trump said Saturday the United States will back Israel if it decides to restart its military campaign in Gaza in a post on Truth Social.
Militants killed more than 1,200 people during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Then Israel struck Gaza, killing more than 45,000 people, according to Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
