Saturday’s swap, the sixth since the truce took effect on January 19, came after Hamas had threatened to pause hostage releases over alleged Israeli violations, while Israel had threatened to resume the war if it did.
Out of 251 hostages seized during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war, 70 remain in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.
The latest release led to tears of joy among friends and family members.
“Finally, Sasha can be surrounded by his loved ones and begin a new path,” Trupanov’s family said in a statement.
Dekel-Chen’s wife, Avital, said in a call to her sister aired by Israel’s Kan public broadcaster: “My breath has returned. He looks so handsome.”
Dekel-Chen finally learned the name of his youngest daughter, born two months after his capture.
