Israel and Hamas finalize sixth exchange of hostages and prisoners

Israel and Hamas successfully completed their sixth swap of hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, marking a brief moment of relief amid the ongoing Gaza ceasefire. The three hostages appeared in better physical condition than those released in previous exchanges.

Israel and Hamas successfully completed their sixth exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, just over two weeks into the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. The exchange provided a moment of relief for the Israeli families involved, with hostages appearing in better physical condition than those released in the previous swap.

The three hostages returned to Israel were Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn, 46, American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, and Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, 29. While the men were emaciated upon their return, they appeared in slightly better shape compared to the hostages freed a week prior.

Troufanov, before being reunited with his family, was informed of his father’s death in the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the 16-month war. Chen, who was preparing to meet his youngest daughter for the first time, and Horn, whose brother, Eitan, remains in captivity, received a mix of both relief and sorrow in their moments of reunion.

The hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in the southern city of Khan Younis, where they were greeted by armed militants before being reunited with their families. The exchange also saw the release of 369 Palestinian prisoners.

This swap is part of the ongoing process during the fragile ceasefire, a period meant to ease tensions as both sides navigate the delicate negotiations around the war’s aftermath.

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