Politics Israel expects further hostages to be released today
After days of concern about the threat of a resumption of the Gaza war, three more Israeli hostages are expected to be released today. According to its own statements, the Islamist Hamas wants to hand over the two men Sagui Dekel-Chen (36) and Jair Horn (46), while the smaller terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad wants to hand over 29-year-old Alexander (Sasha) Trufanov. In return, according to Palestinian sources, Israel is to release 369 imprisoned Palestinians. Among them were 36 who had been sentenced to life imprisonment.
15.02.2025, 05:14
SDA
Israeli media assumed that the ceasefire would hold. However, there is no clear confirmation from the government. After Hamas announced a suspension of the hostage releases at the beginning of the week, there was concern that the war could break out again. Hamas justified its move by saying that Israel was violating agreements and obstructing aid deliveries. US President Donald Trump then demanded the ultimate release of all hostages by noon today. Otherwise all hell would break loose. However, the decision on the consequences ultimately lies with Israel, he said.
Will the ceasefire hold?
Actually, the last of the remaining 76 Israeli hostages are only to be released in a second phase, which is not yet being negotiated. Israel warned that the war would become even tougher if the abductees were not released. He did not know what would happen today, Trump said when asked by a journalist in the White House. "If it were up to me, I would take a very tough stance." However, the decision lies with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "It depends on what Bibi will do. It depends on what Israel will do," Trump emphasized.
Hamas had previously given in and announced after mediation talks in Egypt that it was committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement with Israel. In accordance with the agreement, three more hostages would be released today. Hamas also provided their names on time. They had been abducted in the Gaza Strip when Hamas and other extremists from Gaza attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering the war.
Islamists publish video of Gaza hostage
Shortly before his release announced for today, the terrorist organization Palestinian Islamic Jihad published a video of hostage Trufanov. The 29-year-old, who also has Russian citizenship, can be seen in sportswear. He is walking by the sea, holding a fishing rod and eating something, throwing a stone into the water and writing a letter. He appears outwardly healthy. However, it has not been revealed when the video was taken, which is obviously intended to suggest how well he was treated.
The three Israeli hostages released last Saturday, on the other hand, were in such poor health that Trump made his ultimate demand that all hostages be released by noon today. The three pale, emaciated and visibly weakened men had been paraded on a stage by Hamas before being handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Like Israeli politicians, Trump had said that they reminded him of Holocaust survivors.
US Secretary of State Rubio expected in Israel
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit Israel after attending the Munich Security Conference. Other stops on his trip include Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. From the start of his trip, he called on the Arab states to make their own proposals regarding the future of the Gaza Strip, after Trump caused unrest with his plan to permanently relocate the approximately two million inhabitants to Arab states. According to Trump's vision, the devastated Gaza Strip is to be transformed into a "Riviera of the Middle East" under US control.
