On Friday, Hamas announced that three hostages would be freed on Shabbos: Sagui Dekel-Chen (36), Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov (29), and Yair Horn (46).
Two of the hostages are foreign nationals: Sasha Troufanov, a Russian citizen, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, an American citizen.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that it had received the list of hostages who are scheduled for release on Shabbos.
Sasha Troufanov, 29, from Tel Aviv, is currently held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. He was captured alongside his partner Sapir Cohen, his mother Yelena, and his other mother Irena at their home in Nir Oz while Sasha and Sapir were visiting. The three women were released as part of a deal in November 2023. Tragically, Sasha’s father, Vitali, was killed in the massacre.
Sagui Dekel-Chen, aged 36 and a father to three daughters—one born after his capture—was also taken from Nir Oz. His wife, Avital, has become a leading figure in the efforts to secure the hostages’ release.
Yair Horn, 46, also from Nir Oz, was taken from his home along with his brother Eitan, who was not included in the list of those set to be released in the first phase of the agreement.
Earlier this week, Hamas’ military spokesman, Abu Obaida, declared that the group would delay the next hostages’ release, accusing Israel of breaching the agreement. Shortly afterward, US President Donald Trump suggested that Israel should reconsider the deal if all hostages were not returned by noon on Shabbos.
For a brief time, it appeared Israel was on the same page as Trump’s demand. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Office officially confirmed the suspension of negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. Simultaneously, the Prime Minister ordered the IDF to increase its presence around Gaza and declared: “The decision that I passed unanimously in the Cabinet is this: If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday afternoon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will return to powerful fighting until Hamas is completely defeated.”
By the end of the week, Hamas softened its stance on the hostages’ release, and Israel also withdrew its ultimatum.
{Matzav.com Israel}