American-Israeli hostage released by Hamas embraces his wife, family after being apart for nearly 500 days
2025-02-15
Category: world

American-Israeli hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen embraced his wife after being apart from her for nearly 500 days in heartwarming photos and video&nbsp;taken Saturday following his release by Hamas.&nbsp; The scenes captured at a reception point in Israel show the 36-year-old hugging and kissing Avital Dekel-Chen, who gave birth to their third daughter two months after he was seized by the Palestinian terrorist group during their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on the country. Dekel-Chen's parents are also seen welcoming him home.&nbsp; "Our hearts ache for everything he missed, but now he’s here, unlike many others," his family said in a statement to the Associated Press.&nbsp; As with previous exchanges,&nbsp;Saturday’s hostage release was heavily choreographed, with the captives made to walk onto a stage and speak into microphones before a crowd in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. Dozens of masked, armed Hamas fighters lined up near the stage, which was decorated with Palestinian flags and banners of militant factions.&nbsp; HAMAS FREES 3 MORE HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE THAN 300 PRISONERS AS PART OF CEASEFIRE DEAL WITH ISRAEL&nbsp;  Chen appeared to be limping as he descended the stage during the hostage release, the AP reported.&nbsp; The other hostages released were Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29, and Iair Horn, 46. Troufanov has Israeli and Russian citizenship, while Horn is a dual citizen of Israel and Argentina.&nbsp; The three were abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz in the terror group's Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.&nbsp; ISRAEL’S UN AMBASSADOR SLAMS PALESTINIAN PLAN FOR GAZA, DEMANDS PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY FIRST ‘CONDEMN HAMAS’&nbsp;  In return for the hostages’ release, Israel began releasing 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 36 serving life sentences for deadly attacks. A bus carrying the first released prisoners arrived in the West Bank town of Beitunia and was greeted by a cheering crowd of relatives and supporters. &nbsp; Some appeared gaunt, and the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service said four were immediately taken for medical treatment.&nbsp;  CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP&nbsp; It is the sixth swap since the ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19. Before Saturday, 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners were freed during the first phase of the truce.&nbsp; Fox News’ Landon Mion and the Associated Press contributed to this report.&nbsp;