American hostage released from Hamas as frail ceasefire stands

Correction: The headline and first paragraph of this story were updated to reflect the fact that an additional American remains a hostage in Gaza.

An Israeli American hostage was among the three men released by Hamas Saturday as the frail ceasefire was held up despite threats from the Palestinian militant group earlier in the week that may have upended the deal.

Hamas released Israeli Argentinian Iair Horn, 46, Israeli American Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, and Russian-Israeli Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov on Saturday in Khan Younis, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed. 

All three men were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, when they killed around 1,200 Israelis and took some 250 people captive. 

The three hostages appeared pale and thin, but not as bad as the group freed last weekend, whose physical conditions sparked concerns among Israeli officials. 

IDF said Saturday morning that all three men will “undergo an initial medical assessment” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office added they will “assist in their rehabilitation after a long and excruciating period of captivity.” 

“We are working in full coordination with the United States in order to free all of our hostages – the living and the deceased — as soon as possible; and are preparing with full intensity for what comes next, in every sense,” the prime minister’s office added.

In exchange, Israel said it is releasing 369 Palestinian prisoners, including those who are serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis, marking the sixth successful swap between the two sides since the ceasefire took effect on Jan 19. 

The deal appeared to be put into question earlier this week as Hamas threatened to delay the release after accusing Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement, including targeting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and barring entry of shelters and tents into the war-torn enclave. 

President Trump said last weekend and reiterated on Monday that he could quash the wobbly ceasefire if the remaining hostages are not released on Saturday, saying that “all hell is going to break out.”

On Saturday, the president lauded the freeing of the hostages but reiterated his warning to Hamas that releasing the remaining individuals from the enclave is paramount and if Israel decided to resume fighting the militant group, the U.S. would back the Jewish state.

“Hamas has just released three Hostages from GAZA, including an American Citizen. They seem to be in good shape! This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any Hostages,” Trump wrote Saturday morning on Truth Social. “Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES. The United States will back the decision they make!”

Similarly, Netanyahu issued a warning to Hamas earlier this week and directed the IDF to gather in and around the Strip ahead of the hostage release. 

Hamas confirmed on Thursday that it would follow through on the agreement and release the hostages.

Updated at 5:39 pm EST on February 16.