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Three Israeli hostages released by Hamas in Gaza: Red Cross hands them over to the IDF

Saguy Dekel-Hen, Yair Horen and Aleksandr Trufanov freed and handed over to the Red Cross. Hamas exploits the liberation for new propaganda against Israel

Today, three Israeli hostages, Saguy Dekel-Hen, a 36-year-old Israeli-American citizen, Aleksandr Sasha Trufanov, a 29-year-old Russian-Israeli citizen, and 46-year-old Yair Horen, were released by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The hostages were transferred by the militiamen, armed and with their faces covered, to Red Cross vehicles, who will hand them over to the IDF (the Israeli army) at a rendezvous point inside Gaza.

According to Palestinian sources, Hamas militiamen arrived at the release point in Khan Yunis dressed in Israeli military uniforms and vests, carrying weapons stolen during the 7 October attacks. The hostages were taken in a vehicle also stolen from the IDF during the raids.

Hamas used the occasion to set up a propaganda stage with provocative messages. Among the slogans displayed on the stage, one reads: ‘There is no emigration except to Jerusalem’, a clear reference to the Trump plan for the region. An illustration depicts Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October, looking at the Palestinian flag in front of the Esplanade of Mosques.

Along the stage, a series of pictures from the 7 October raids on various kibbutzim and Israeli military bases, such as Reem, Urim and Nir Oz, were displayed, along with portraits of Hamas commanders eliminated in Israeli operations, including Mohammed Deif.

Before being escorted away, the three hostages spoke briefly on the stage set up by Hamas. Yair Horen addressed a thought to his brother Eitan, still imprisoned in Gaza: ‘I leave behind me my brother Eitan. We must bring them all home,’ he said, referring to the hope of freeing all the hostages still being held.

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