Hostage Swap: Israelis Freed, Palestinians Released as Gaza Ceasefire Holds

 In a development signaling the continuation of a fragile ceasefire, three Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been released in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. 

The exchange, which occurred on Saturday, marks the sixth such exchange since the ceasefire began on January 19.

The three Israelis released have been identified as Iair Horn, 46, a dual citizen of Israel and Argentina; Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, who holds both American and Israeli citizenship; and Alexander Sasha Troufanov, 29, a citizen of both Israel and Russia.

They were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023.

In return, Israel has released 369 Palestinian prisoners, the majority of whom had been held without formal charges or convictions. The prisoners were released from Ofer Prison in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, and an Israeli facility in the Negev desert.

While the hostage release and prisoner exchange represent a positive step, the ceasefire remains fragile.

 According to the Times of Israel, there are 14 Israeli hostages still expected to be released in the first phase of the deal