Hamas releases three Israeli hostages on schedule

The terror group on Saturday freed 46-year-old Israeli-Argentine Iair Horn, 36-year-old Israeli-American Sagui Dekel Chen, and 29-year-old Israeli-Russian Alexander Troufanov. As at previous releases, armed and masked Hamas militants marched all three of the men onto a stage before a cheering crowd of Palestinians. They were then individually paraded before the crowd before being placed into the custody of waiting representatives of the Red Cross.

What was their condition? Dr. Hagar Mizrahi, the head of the medical directorate at Israel’s Ministry of Health, on Saturday said that the three were receiving medical and rehabilitative care. She did not provide any further information about their conditions. Videos released by the Hostage Family Forum showed Chen, Troufanov, and Horn reuniting with their families. All three of the men appeared to be in good condition and were able to walk and talk on their own.

How were they treated? Yesterday, former hostage Keith Siegel, 65, issued a public statement, his first since his Feb. 1 release. He described the conditions in captivity as unimaginable and said he thought every day would be his last. He was starved and tortured, and as the war intensified, his treatment worsened, he said. He was kicked, spat on, and held without water or light in stifling conditions, he said. He called on Trump to bring the remaining hostages home. Siegel thanked U.S. President Donald Trump, citing him as the reason he is at home alive.

What about Israel’s ceasefire commitments? Israel released nearly 370 Palestinian prisoners and detainees Saturday, some of whom Israel accused of terrorism. Three dozen of them had been sentenced to life in prison because of their involvement in deadly attacks against Israelis, according to the Israeli government. Palestinian medics told the Associated Press that at least four of them needed urgent care and were hospitalized upon release.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about the reaction of Palestinian allies to Trump’s Gaza takeover proposal.