Gaza, February 15, 2025: In a significant development amid the ongoing ceasefire, Israel has released 369 Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas has freed three Israeli hostages, marking the latest exchange under the prisoner-for-hostage deal between the two sides. This marks the sixth batch of releases since the ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19, 2025.
Among the 369 Palestinian prisoners freed, 36 had been serving life sentences for their involvement in attacks during the Second Intifada and other violent incidents. The remaining 333 detainees were arrested following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel.
The released prisoners were welcomed by their families and the Red Cross at the Ramallah Cultural Palace, where emotional reunions took place. However, ahead of the release, Israeli security forces conducted operations in Beitunia, near Ramallah, to prevent large gatherings near the Ofer prison gates, where the prisoners were being freed.
This latest exchange is part of ongoing efforts to sustain the fragile truce, with both sides negotiating further releases as part of a broader ceasefire agreement.
Earlier the same day, Hamas and Islamic Jihad released three Israeli hostages who had been held in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The freed hostages are Alexandre Sasha Troufanov (29), Sagui Dekel-Chen (36) and Iair Horn (46).
Troufanov’s father was killed on the day of his abduction, and he was taken alongside his mother, grandmother, and partner, who were previously released. Dekel-Chen was working outdoors at the time of the attack, while Horn was kidnapped along with his brother Eitan Horn, who remains in captivity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed their safe return, attributing the continued hostage releases to Israeli military pressure and U.S. diplomatic influence. President Donald Trump had recently issued a stern warning, threatening a resumption of hostilities if all hostages were not freed, adding urgency to the exchange process.
Since the ceasefire began on January 19, 2025, the prisoner-hostage exchange has resulted in the release of 33 Israeli hostages in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. So far, 19 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals have been freed under the agreement.
The international community remains cautiously optimistic that these exchanges will contribute to a long-term resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, with tensions still high and uncertainty surrounding the truce, further negotiations will be critical in ensuring the release of remaining hostages and prisoners while maintaining stability in the region.
