Israel Releases Palestinian Prisoners Following Hamas’ Release of Israeli Hostages

As part of a negotiated exchange, Israel has freed Palestinian prisoners after Hamas released Israeli hostages in Gaza, marking a significant development in ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Hamas has freed three Israeli hostages following several days of concern regarding the continuation of the Gaza ceasefire.

The hostages have returned to Israel—tune in for our live coverage at the top of the page.

Israel is releasing 369 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, with some heading to the West Bank while most are now arriving in Gaza.

Hamas announced on Monday that it would not be releasing hostages this weekend, attributing the decision to alleged ceasefire violations by Israel.

Israel announced that it would resume attacks on Gaza if hostages were not released by midday (local time) on Saturday.

If you’re just tuning in, we’ve been covering the release of three dual-national Israeli hostages from Gaza today.

This marks the sixth release of its kind since a tenuous ceasefire was established between Israel and Hamas last month.

Here’s what you should be aware of:

This morning, Hamas freed three hostages: Alexander Troufanov, a 29-year-old with Russian-Israeli citizenship; Yair Horn, a 46-year-old Argentine-Israeli; and Sagui Dekel-Chen, a 36-year-old American-Israeli.

The handover in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip, to the Red Cross was meticulously organized and calmer compared to other recent hostage releases. This event unfolded amidst a backdrop of armed individuals and pro-Hamas imagery.

The ceremony faced criticism from Israel; however, Israeli officials expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his recent statements.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office, Israel is set to release 369 Palestinians today. Among those released, 36 had been serving life sentences, while 333 were held without charge.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society informed the BBC that five Palestinian prisoners, released in Ramallah located within the occupied West Bank, were immediately transported to a hospital. They reported that these individuals suffered from “chronic illnesses,” and one man had sustained a broken leg.

Most of the Palestinian prisoners being released today will be transported to Gaza, while some are being freed in the West Bank. Additionally, it is reported that the majority of those serving life sentences—36 individuals—will likely be deported to Egypt.