Three men paraded on stage by gunmen in southern Gaza before being handed over to Red Cross; Dekel-Chen ecstatic to hear about 3rd daughter,
by Emanuel Fabian
Freed hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov and Iair Horn crossed back into Israel on Saturday morning after being paraded on a stage in southern Gaza in a propaganda-filled release ceremony by the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups that held them captive for 498 days.
Troufanov, who had been held by Islamic Jihad, was the first to emerge from a vehicle and be led onto the stage. Dekel-Chen and Horn, who had been held by Hamas, were then brought up, with both of them clad in black and cream sweatsuits, a shift from the previous hostage release where the men were dressed as prisoners or soldiers.
Dekel-Chen and Horn both looked thin and pale, and Horn appeared to be limping. But the three appeared to be in a better physical condition than the three severely emaciated hostages who were released last week in images that shocked Israel and sparked an outpouring of anger.
Relatives of the three cheered with relief and happiness when they saw images of them being released. Hundreds had also gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square to watch the release.
Soon after his release, Dekel-Chen was informed he has a third daughter, born two months after his abduction, and was reportedly ecstatic to hear the news.
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Troufanov, in stark contrast, was informed that his father was murdered by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023.
Horn’s brother Eitan is still held hostage.
