Three Israeli captives—Alexander Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Yair Horn—are set to be released in Gaza today in exchange for 369 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

Hamas has announced that indirect negotiations with Israel for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal are expected to begin next week.

Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, 16 Israeli and five Thai hostages have been freed in exchange for 766 Palestinian prisoners.

During the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, a total of 33 hostages are expected to be released in return for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel.

The conflict erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, during which gunmen killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

Since then, Israel's offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 48,230 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Currently, 73 hostages taken on October 7 remain in Gaza. Additionally, three other Israeli hostages—one of whom is deceased—have been held there for over a decade.

Trufanov, 29, Horn, 46, and Dekel-Chen, 36, were all abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border.

Source: Al Jazeera and BBC

BDST: 1027 HRS, FEB 15, 2025
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