Tel Aviv [Israel], February 15 (HBTV): The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Saturday announced the return of three hostages—Alexandre, Sagui, and Iair—after 498 days in captivity.

The IDF confirmed that the hostages are being accompanied by IDF and Israel Security Agency (ISA) forces as they make their way back to Israeli territory. Upon arrival, they will undergo an initial medical assessment.

Sharing a post on X, the IDF wrote, ‘After 498 days, Alexandre, Sagui and Iair are finally home.’ In another post, it stated, ‘The 3 returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF and ISA forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment. The IDF salutes and embraces the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel.’

According to information communicated by the Red Cross, three hostages were transferred to them and are on their way toward IDF and ISA forces in Gaza. In Tel Aviv, the release of the three men was met with cheers from the crowd gathered at Hostages’ Square, TPS reported.

Alexandre Sasha Trufanov, 29, a dual citizen of Israel and Russia, was abducted on October 7 from his family home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, where he was visiting with his girlfriend Sapir Cohen. Hamas fighters killed his father and took the remaining four family members captive.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, is one of three American citizens believed to be alive at the start of the ceasefire. Also a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Dekel-Chen managed to keep his wife, Avital, who was seven months pregnant at the time, and their two daughters safe. His mother, who was injured, played dead to survive. He will be meeting his third daughter for the first time.

Yair Horn, 46, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his younger brother, Eitan, who had come to visit from Kfar Saba in central Israel. Their family had made Aliyah from Argentina. However, for Yair and Eitan’s parents, the ordeal is not over, as Eitan, 38, was not among those released in this phase of the deal.

Earlier, Red Cross vehicles were stationed at locations designated by Hamas in Khan Yunis in preparation for the transfer of the freed hostages, TPS reported.

On Friday, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office announced that it had received the names of three hostages—Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Trufanov, and Iair Horn—who were set to be released by Hamas on Saturday as part of the sixth hostage-prisoner exchange under the ongoing ceasefire agreement, The Times of Israel reported. Hamas had informed Israel of their release through Egyptian and Qatari mediators after backing down from its earlier threat to delay the exchange.

Earlier this week, Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet its aid obligations under the ceasefire agreement. Israel denied the accusation and warned of resuming its military operations.

In recent weeks, Hamas has released 16 Israeli and five Thai hostages under the ceasefire agreement, which also requires Israel to release around 2,000 Palestinian security prisoners, including hundreds convicted of deadly attacks, The Times of Israel reported.

As of now, 73 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 35 individuals confirmed dead by the IDF.

(ANI)