Gaza: Israeli Captives Released in Vehicle Seized in October 7 Operation
Gaza (Quds News Network)- One of the vehicles that carried the three Israeli captives prior to their release on Saturday morning in Gaza was reportedly seized during Hamas’s “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation in Israel on October 7, 2023.
بينها مركبة لجيش الاحتلال اغتنمت في السابع من أكتوبر.. لحظة وصول مركبات القـــسام التي تقل الأسرى الإسرائيليين الثلاثة إلى موقع التسليم للصليب الأحمر في خانيونس. pic.twitter.com/DBkOPn9h9x
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) February 15, 2025
The Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, also presented Sagui Dekel-Chen, one of the captives, with a gold coin as a gift for his daughter, who was born four months after he was captured.
During their release, the resistance groups handed an Israeli captive a model of an hourglass with the words “Time is running out” written on it.
Some of the Qassam fighters were also seen carrying Israeli “Tavor” rifles that were captured from the occupation forces on October 7.
تغطية صحفية | بنادق "التافور" الإسرائيلية بأيدي مقاتلي القـــسام خلال مراسم الإفراج عن ثلاثة أسرى الاحتلال ضمن الدفعة السادسة من صفقة المقاومة. pic.twitter.com/pR8RcGXgtz
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) February 15, 2025
Palestinian resistance groups handed over on Saturday morning three Israeli captives, American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Alexandre Troufanov and Argentinian-Israeli Yair Horn, to the International Red Cross as part of the sixth prisoner exchange deal under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Earlier, the Islamic Jihad’s military wing, al-Quds Brigades, confirmed the release of Alexandre Troufanov as part of the sixth phase of the ongoing exchange deal. The Qassam, Hamas’s military wing, also confirmed the release of the three captives.
The handover took place in Khan Younis in southern Gaza near the home of late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, amidst a heavy presence of fighters from the Qassam Brigades and al-Quds Brigades with full military gear.
Members of Al-Qassam Brigades and Al-Quds Brigades hand over three Israeli captives to the International Red Cross as part of the sixth batch of the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and the resistance. pic.twitter.com/KZ6q13UVvU
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 15, 2025
Civilians could be seen behind them, standing on the rubble of destroyed buildings.
The captives stood alongside resistance fighters on a platform with the writing “O Jerusalem, Bear Witness: We Are Your Soldiers,” “We Crossed Over Swiftly” and “No migration except to Jerusalem,” where a handover agreement was signed between a Hamas representative and the Red Cross.
A source from Al-Qassam Brigades told Al Jazeera that the brigades presented Israeli prisoner Sagui Dekel Chen, who is set to be released today, a golden coin as a gift for his daughter, who was born four months after his capture. pic.twitter.com/ng6IsBcANH
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 15, 2025
In the background, Hamas displayed images of its leaders who were killed by Israel during the assault, including Mohammad Deif, the chief of staff of the Qassam Brigades.
Meanwhile, Israel is preparing to free 36 Palestinian detainees serving life sentences and 333 Palestinians from Gaza abducted during the assault.
The initial phase of the agreement, which spans 42 days, aims to exchange 33 Israeli captives for 1,900 Palestinians in three stages. So far, 21 captives have been released, including 5 Tahi nationals.
Tensions had risen ahead of this phase of the deal.
Hamas said Thursday it is committed to the release of Israeli captives and upholding the ceasefire agreement, just days after the Palestinian resistance group announced it would delay the release of the three captives scheduled for Saturday due to Israeli ceasefire violations, including shooting Palestinians in Gaza and not allowing the agreed-upon number of tents, shelters, and other vital aid to enter the besieged enclave. Israel responded by saying that if Hamas failed to free captives according to the schedule, it would resume its war.
In a statement, Hamas said it would continue implementing the ceasefire agreement, including the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian detainees, “according to the specified timetable.”
A Palestinian source quoted by AFP news agency said on Thursday that mediators had obtained from Israel a “promise … to put in place a humanitarian protocol starting from this morning” that would allow construction equipment and temporary housing into the devastated territory.
Mediators also confirmed all parties remain committed to fulfilling the ceasefire terms, including the humanitarian protocol.
Since the ceasefire went into effect on January 19, Israeli forces have killed at least 92 Palestinians and wounded more than 800, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
Reports said indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel are expected to start next week on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
