https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/hamas-releases-3-hostages-as-fragile-cease-fire-holds
By Andrew Thornebrooke, updated 02/16/25
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Terrorist organization Hamas has released three more hostages to Israel in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The Feb. 15 swap was conducted as a cease-fire brokered by the United States and Arab states continues to hold under strain.
Hamas terrorists paraded the three hostages through a large crowd before releasing them in a show of force likely designed to underscore the fact that the terrorist group is still operating despite Israel’s war in Gaza.
The hostages, all dual citizens, were transported to Israel to be reunited with their families and to receive medical evaluation.
Hostages released included Argentinian Israeli citizen Iair Horn, American Israeli citizen Sagui Chen, and Russian Israeli citizen Alexander Troufanov.
All three men were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’s terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
The men were pale and disheveled as they were paraded through the streets of Gaza but appeared to be in better physical health than the hostages released last week, whose emaciated condition outraged Israelis and threatened to bring the current cease-fire to an end.
The three returned home to an Israel different from the one they were taken from and were reunited with families that have seen much suffering in the 16 months since the war began.
* Photo - released hostage Iair Horn sits with his mother.