American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen is set to be released by Hamas in an upcoming exchange scheduled for this weekend, as confirmed by Israeli officials on Friday. Alongside Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Alexandre Sasha Troufanov and Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn will also be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The announcement of their release follows a period of uncertainty regarding the stability of the ceasefire agreement that was reached last month. Fortunately, the agreement held firm thanks to the diligent efforts of Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
Dekel-Chen played a pivotal role during the Hamas incursion at Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, being one of the first to spot the approaching threat. Despite the danger, he courageously raised the alarm, secured his family in their home’s safe room, and assisted the kibbutz security team before his last communication around 9:30 a.m.
Both Dekel-Chen and fellow American Keith Siegel were among the 33 hostages that Hamas agreed to release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during the 42-day truce. Siegel was successfully released on February 1, marking a positive outcome of the agreement.
Troufanov, who was captured along with his mother, grandmother, and girlfriend during the same incident, appeared in distressing videos while in captivity, highlighting the difficult conditions he faced. His mother and grandmother were released earlier, with his girlfriend being freed in a previous exchange.
Similarly, Iair Horn, who was abducted alongside his brother Eitan Horn during the incursion, will also be released in the upcoming exchange. While Iair Horn was included in the initial round of releases, his brother remained in captivity, adding to the anguish experienced by their family.
The release of Dekel-Chen, Troufanov, and Horn signifies a significant development in the ongoing efforts to secure the freedom of hostages held by Hamas. The exchange serves as a testament to the diplomatic initiatives undertaken to promote peace and stability in the region, offering hope for a future of reconciliation and cooperation between the involved parties.
