Hostages handed over to Israeli military
According to Israeli media the released hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov and Iair Horn are now in the hands of IDF troops in the Gaza Strip.
They will shortly be brought out of the Strip to an army facility near the border community of Re’im for an initial checkup.
Key events
UN vehicle torched, commander wounded as Hezbollah supporters protest
A UN peacekeeping force vehicle was torched in Lebanon on Friday as supporters of militant group Hezbollah blocked the road to Beirut airport in protest. Unifil reports one commander was wounded in the incident, AFP reports.
Hezbollah supporters blocked the road to the airport on Thursday and Friday nights due to two Iranian planes being prevented from landing in Beirut.
The Lebanese army says it will take “firm action” against those responsible for the disorder.
“Several areas, particularly the area around the airport … have been the scene of demonstrations marked by acts of vandalism and clashes, including assaults on members of the armed forces and attacks against vehicles” of the United Nations, the Lebanese army posted on X.
Troops will take “firm action to prevent any breach of public order and arrest troublemakers”, it added.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon demanded a “full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities”.
“Attacks on peacekeepers are flagrant violations of international law and may amount to war crimes,” the peacekeeping force said.
“We demand a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice.”
The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, described the incident as “unacceptable”.
“Such an act of violence threatens the safety of United Nations staff who work tirelessly to maintain stability in Lebanon, sometimes at great personal risk,” she said in a statement.
The office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel welcomes the released hostages with a “big embrace.”
It adds: “We have prepared for their return, and together with their families, we will assist in their rehabilitation after the long and agonizing days in captivity.”
Referring to Hamas’ statement made earlier this week that they wouldn’t release hostages today due to their claim that Israel had violated the terms of the ceasefire deal, the PM’s office adds:c“This week too, Hamas attempted to violate the agreement and create a false crisis with baseless claims. Thanks to the deployment of our forces inside and around Gaza, and thanks to President Trump’s clear and unequivocal statement, Hamas backed down, and the release of the hostages continued.
“We are working in full coordination with the United States to rescue all our hostages — both the living and the fallen — as quickly as possible, and we are fully prepared for what comes next, in every respect.”
Israel claims that that Argentine-Israeli hostage Lair Horn was held in “unimaginable conditions”.
A post on the official Israel X account claims that Horn and his brother Eitan had been “violently kidnapped” on October 7 and were kept in “unimaginable conditions for nearly 500 days”.
Hamas still hold Eitan hostage and he will not be released in phase one of the ceasefire.
The families of the hostages have issued statements following their release on Saturday
Sasha Troufanov’s family says, “We are overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude for Sasha’s return home after 498 long and tormenting days in captivity. On October 7, Sasha was brutally kidnapped from his home and shot in both legs. Seeing him today strengthens us and gives us great hope for the long rehabilitation process ahead of him.”
They thank IDF soldiers, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum “and especially all citizens of Israel for their embrace, support and unwavering faith.”
They add they do not know whether Troufanov is aware that his father was murdered on October 7.
“This knowledge – or lack thereof – will completely transform his homecoming from a day of great joy to one of deep mourning for his beloved father,” they say.
The family of Iair Horn says: “Now we can breathe a little. Our Iair is home after surviving hell in Gaza. Now, we need to bring [hostage brother] Eitan back so our family can truly breathe.
“We thank the IDF soldiers and security forces who risk their lives and bodies, and send condolences to the bereaved families who lost their most precious ones for all of us. You are forever in our hearts.
“We won’t stop and will continue working to bring Eitan and all other hostages home.״
Buses gather in front of Ofer prison, West Bank, ahead of the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Ofer prison is a military detention facility. There is a military court that sentences dozens of Palestinians every day, some without charge or trial.
In total, 369 prisoners are expected to be released today.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Association this includes 29 from the West Bank and seven from Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
Around 333 people detained in Gaza since 7 October 2023 will also be freed, according to the group.
Three hundred and thirty three Palestinians detained in Gaza since October 7 will also be freed.
Twenty four will be exiled to other countries.
Released hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov and Iair Horn have crossed the border into Israel after 498 days in captivity.
No way to free hostages other than ‘through negotiations’, says Hamas
In a statement, Hamas says that today’s hostage release shows there is no way to free the hostages held in Gaza “except through negotiations and by adhering to the requirements of the ceasefire agreement”.
The group adds: “We say to the whole world: There is no migration except to Jerusalem,” a response to US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians resettle in neighbouring countries.
It was touch and go if the hostages would be released today, as earlier in the week, Hamas said they wouldn’t release them due to their claim that Israel had violated the terms of the ceasefire deal put in place three weeks ago.
Hostages handed over to Israeli military
According to Israeli media the released hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov and Iair Horn are now in the hands of IDF troops in the Gaza Strip.
They will shortly be brought out of the Strip to an army facility near the border community of Re’im for an initial checkup.
Today’s handover unfolded a lot more smoothly than past releases orchestrated by both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Previous releases were marked by chaotic scenes with hostages enveloped by large crowds as they made their way to Red Cross vehicles.
The IDF has confirmed that the three hostages are in the care of the Red Cross and will shortly be transferred to the military unit in Gaza.
Once the hostages are handed over to the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), they will receive a medical assessment.
Lair Horn, 46, was taken by fighters from his home in Israel’s Nir Oz settlement on October 7, 2023. Horn and his family emigrated from Argentina.
Alexander Trufanov, 29, a Russian Israeli national, was abducted with his girlfriend, Sapir Cohen, from their home in Nir Oz on October 7 2023. His father was killed in the attacks.
Sagui Dekel-Chen, who was also taken from Nir Oz, is a US Israeli citizen. The 36-year-old is a father of three, including one who was born during his captivity, and is not aware that his wife and children survived the October 2023 attack.
The Red Cross is now bringing them to IDF and Shin Bet forces inside Gaza to then be escorted out of the Strip, reports the Times of Israel.
Here are some images from Saturday’s hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel.
Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters
Russian-Israeli Sasha (Alexander) Troufanov, a hostage held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, Photograph: Ramadan Abed/Reuters
People react as they watch news coverage, on the day of the release of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
Israel are now expected to hand over 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Khan Younis, Gaza.
In a highly coordinated operation, the hostages, flanked by heavily armed members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, were led onto to a stage covered in propaganda images and invited to speak on a microphone.
The hostages look in healthy condition.
All held up documents with their pictures as cameras and small drones hovered overhead, filming the event.
All three hostages have now been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Three Israeli hostages released
The three captives, Israeli-Argentinian Iair Horn, 46; Israeli-American Sagui Dekel Chen, 36; and Israeli-Russian Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29 are now on stage being handed over to the Red Cross.
Red Cross officials can be seen talking to Hamas officials and walking over to a white van which has just arrived in the square.
