HAMAS pulled a sick stunt as they released three more Israeli hostages, forcing one to hold an hour glass that threatened: “Time is running out.”
The malicious taunt overshadowed the handover of three men abducted on October 7, who have now been safely returned to the Israeli army.
Some 73 hostages are still thought to be stuck in Gaza, with half of those feared dead.
The hostages released this morning were Alexander Troufanov, 29, Iair Horn, 46, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36.
Hostage Iair Horn was forced to hold an hourglass above a photo of another hostage, Matan Zangauker – who is still being held – and his mother.
The poster was accompanied by the caption: “Time is running out.”
The mind games were described as “barbaric” by Israeli commentators, but are nothing new.
Hamas has frequently used the release ceremonies to send messages that further the torture of the hostage families.
Next to the stage was also a giant poster depicting the final moments of Yahya Sinwar – the terrorist mastermind behind the October 7 attack.
The men released this morning are all dual nationality: Alexander is a Russian-Israeli citizen, Yair is Argentine-Israeli and Sagui is an American-Israeli.
They were each handed microphones on stage and made to address the crowd that had gathered around in Khan Younis.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Israel threatens to end Gaza ceasefire if Hamas does not meet deadline to release hostages” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6368663924112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Images showed Red Cross workers joining them on stage to sign the release papers.
Red Cross cars then ferried the men out of Khan Younis, followed by a truck full of gun-wielding Hamas terrorists.
The IDF has now confirmed it has the hostages in its care.
It said hostages will be checked over at an Israeli military base before being reunited with their families.
Cheers rang out in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as live images showed the release unfolding.
This, the sixth round of Israeli hostage released in phase one of the peace deal, was thrown into doubt earlier this week.
Hamas claimed Israel had breached the terms of the peace deal – and said today’s release would be delayed until the conditions were honoured.
However, after talks with mediators and strong words from the Israeli and American governments, the handover was re-confirmed.
Israel vowed to resume bombing in the strip if the hostages were not handed over, and President Trump said the peace deal would be called off.
The Republican issued an ultimatum to Hamas as he warned “all hell is going to break out” if they refuse to release the final hostages.
He told reporters at The White House: “If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I think it’s an appropriate time.
“I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out. I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday.”
Speaking directly on the hostages, Trump added: “I don’t want a trickle. Not three and then two. I want them all.”
Trump has since posted on Truth Social abut the latest batch of releases as he again spoke about the 12pm deadline.
He wrote: “Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES.
“The United States will back the decision they make!”
Despite the political drama continue to unfold around the fragile ceasefire deal there was delight this morning in the home towns of the three men.
Friends and relatives have waited almost 500 agonising days to see them alive and well once again.
Yair’s brother, Eitan, is still being held in Gaza and is not chalked for release in phase one of the ceasefire deal.
Since the ceasefire began on January 19, 16 Israeli and five Thai hostages have been released in exchange for 766 prisoners.
In return for the three latest hostage releases, 369 Palestinian prisoners have been freed from Israeli jails.
Of those, 36 have life sentences, and 333 were detained since October 7.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said earlier today that four of the prisoners have been taken to hospital due to their “critical health condition”.
Israeli officials denied the claims and said they were all handed over okay.
In a statement, Hamas said today’s release shows there is no way hostages will be returned from Gaza “except through negotiations and by adhering to the requirements of the ceasefire agreement”.
The group added: “We say to the whole world: There is no migration except to Jerusalem.”
This was in response to Trump’s suggestion the people of Gaza would be moved to neighbouring countries and the strip turned into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.
