Hamas frees 3 hostages, Israel releases hundreds of prisoners as fragile ceasefire holds

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Scripps News/AP

Posted 39 minutes ago


Hamas-led militants released three male Israeli hostages Saturday and Israeli forces began releasing hundreds of prisoners in return, in the latest indication that a fragile ceasefire that has paused fighting in the Gaza Strip but had teetered in recent days is holding.

Militants in the southern Gaza Strip paraded the three hostages — Iair Horn, 46, a dual citizen of Israel and Argentina; American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen, 36; and Russian-Israeli Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29 — before a crowd before releasing them.

All had been abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community that was hard-hit in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war. They appeared pale and worn, but seemed in better physical condition than the three men released last Saturday, who had emerged emaciated from 16 months of captivity.

The truce that began nearly four weeks ago had been jeopardized in recent days by a tense dispute that threatened to renew the fighting.

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/world/israel-at-war/hamas-frees-3-hostages-israel-releases-hundreds-of-prisoners-as-fragile-ceasefire-holds

[twodogsbarking]

1. Hostages/Prisoners. Need I say more.

[Callie1979]

2. But trump said they ALL had to be released by noon. ALL of them

Just like what he said before he was inaugurated.
I think he's drawn his "red line" twice now & will have failed to back it up BOTH times

[Polybius]

5. Is there an estimate for how many are left?

I wonder how many are still alive.

[Callie1979]

9. I have heard 74

[Beastly Boy]

3. Hamas lied in order to derail the release They blinked under international pressure.

If only there was consistent international pressure on them to end their atrocities...

There are 17 hostages yet to be released in Phase 1 of the cease fire agreement. Where is the UN and other NGOs? Who is to pressure Hamas to end terrorism?

[Mosby]

4. Great questions.

World leaders don't seem to care, even when it's their citizens.

[Polybius]

6. "They blinked under international pressure"

US pressure was the stiffest.

[Richard D]

8. Netanyahu blinked too . . .

. . . we'll see where it goes, but I highly doubt we'll see a mass release of prisoners unless Israel goes into full-on attack mode. The right-wing in Israel is upset that Bibi isn't doing that. At least yet.