Skip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross on Saturday Israel says it has received a list of three names from Hamas Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are set to be freed as part of the ceasefire deal Here are the latest developments regarding Israel, Gaza and the wider Middle East on Saturday, February 15:
Skip next section Israel confirms it has received 3 hostagesFebruary 15, 2025
Israel confirms it has received 3 hostagesIsrael has said three hostages were returned after being handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip.
The three were released in what is the sixth hostage-prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas under the terms of a January 19 ceasefire deal.
The men — Iair Horn, 46, a dual citizen of Israel and Argentina; Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, who is American-Israeli; and
Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29, who holds Israeli and Russian citizenship — were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities near the Gaza Strip that was targeted in the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7, 2023.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qVUQ
Skip next section Hamas hands over 3 Israeli hostagesFebruary 15, 2025
Hamas hands over 3 Israeli hostagesThe hostages to be released were made to take to a stage before being handed to the Red CrossImage: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty ImagesArmed Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants have paraded three Israeli hostages due to be released on Saturday on a stage at the Gaza site selected for their liberation.
Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen, Israeli-Russian Sasha Trupanov and Israeli-Argentine Yair Horn were led over the stage in Khan Younis before being handed over to the Red Cross, which had earlier sent vehicles to the site.
The area had previously been decorated with Palestinian flags and the banners of militant factions.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qVMd
Skip next section UN peacekeeper injured in Beirut attackFebruary 15, 2025
UN peacekeeper injured in Beirut attackThe conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has brought increased instability to the already fragile countryImage: Ibrahim Amro/AFPA peacekeeper with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was wounded during an attack in Beirut on Friday night.
The outgoing deputy force commander of the UN peacekeeping force suffered injuries when a convoy transporting the peacekeepers to Beirut airport was “violently attacked” and a vehicle was torched, UNIFIL said.
Supporters of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group have blockaded the road to Lebanon’s only airport for two straight nights after two Iranian planes were stopped from landing in the capital.
The move came after the Israeli military accused Iran of using civilian flights to smuggle cash to Hezbollah.
“We demand a full and immediate investigation by Lebanese authorities and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice,” UNIFIL said on Saturday.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has vowed to punish those behind the attack.
A statement from the president’s office condemning the attack said that “security forces will not be lenient with any party that tries to upset stability and civil peace.”
Lebanese authorities are scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Saturday following the incident.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qVI4
Skip next section What we know about the Israeli hostages due for releaseFebruary 15, 2025
What we know about the Israeli hostages due for releaseIair Horn, Sasha Troufanov and Sagui Dekel Chen have been held captive in Gaza since October 2023Image: Hostages Family Forum/AP/picture allianceThe office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday it had received a list with the names of the three hostages to be released by Hamas.
The hostages listed were Israeli-Argentine Iair Horn, 46; Israeli-American Sagui Dekel Chen, 36; and Israeli-Russian Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29.
The three were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities near the Gaza Strip that was targeted in the Hamas terror attacks on October 7, 2023.
The Hamas-linked Prisoners’ Information Office has said that in return, Israel will release 369 Palestinians, 36 of whom are serving life sentences, from Israeli prisons.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qVBk
Skip next section Hamas agrees once more to release hostagesFebruary 15, 2025
Hamas agrees once more to release hostagesHamas has said it would release three Israeli hostages from captivity in Gaza on Saturday as part of a ceasefire deal.
It comes after the militant group threatened earlier in the week to delay the release.
Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement by not allowing in enough shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment for clearing rubble into the Gaza Strip.
Israel threatened to resume fighting on Saturday unless the hostages were released.
On Friday, Hamas reversed course after mediation by Egypt and Qatar. It released the names of three hostages that it planned to release.
Residents of Gaza’s Jabaliya camp return to rubble and ruinTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Under the January 19 ceasefire deal, Hamas agreed to hand over 33 Israeli hostages and Israel agreed to free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Since the ceasefire took hold, 16 Israeli hostages and five Thai hostages have been released from Gaza. In return, more than 730 Palestinian prisoners have been released.
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Skip next section Welcome to DW’s coverage of Gaza ceasefire developmentsFebruary 15, 2025
Welcome to DW’s coverage of Gaza ceasefire developmentsTimothy Jones | Zac Crellin | Sean Sinico | Alex Berry
Thank you for joining us as we report on events surrounding the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, a truce that has seemed increasingly fragile in recent days.
After briefly suspending the agreed releases of hostages taken during the Hamas-led raids on October 7, 2023, that triggered the conflict, Palestinian militants have now agreed to free three more captives on Saturday. The names of those hostages were announced on Friday, as DW reportedhere.
https://p.dw.com/p/4qVFz
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