The individuals slated for release are Russian-Israeli citizen Alexander Troufanov, 29, Argentine-Israeli Yair Horn, 46, and US-Israeli national Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36. All three were taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz, located near the Gaza border, during the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023

The move, confirmed late Friday, has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli officials and raised concerns about the stability of the fragile truce. Three Israeli hostages were set to be freed on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel

Hamas has announced the release of Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This exchange raises the total hostages freed since January 19 to 18, with Israel releasing 383 Palestinian detainees as part of the deal

The release occurred in a low-key ceremony, highlighting the delicate nature of the exchange. The ICRC facilitated the handover, marking a key moment in the ongoing ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, potentially easing tensions between the two sides

Israel's prison service confirmed the release, stating that a diverse group of men and women were freed from various facilities

The existing truce, already extended for two days, has been marked by the release of 50 Israeli hostages by Hamas, including 30 children and 20 Israeli women