Sasha Alexander Tropanov, Sagi Dekel Chen, and Yair Horn, who had been held captive in Gaza since October 7, 2023, were released today (Saturday), as part of the sixth round of the hostage deal with Hamas.
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The three abductees met with their family members at the reception point in Re'im and took off towards the hospitals. Yair was flown to Ichilov, and Sasha and Sagi were transferred to Sheba Tel Hashomer.
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Avital, Sagi Dekel-Chen's wife, spoke about her feelings ahead of the exciting meeting with her husband. "I can't breathe again, I'm very emotional. What a handsome man he is. I'm very relieved that he's in the hands of the IDF.".
Sagi Dekel-Chen met at Sheba Hospital with his sisters Ofir and Dotan. The two told him that Avital "is our Chief of Staff.".
Sagi was kidnapped from Nir Oz, the kibbutz that became a symbol on October 7, when a quarter of its residents were murdered or kidnapped to the Gaza Strip. At the time of his abduction, his wife Avital was heavily pregnant, hiding and protecting their daughters, ages six and two. Sagi's mother, Naamit, was also kidnapped but played dead - and survived.
While he was in Hamas captivity, his wife Avital gave birth to his third daughter, Shahar. His wife Avital said that his daughters, who had been acting calmly while in the MMD, asked about him every day and missed their father.
Documentation: Sagi accompanied by his wife Avital, at his first meeting with his sisters Ofir and Dotan in the hospital@gilicohen10
(Photo: Omer Meron / GPO) pic.twitter.com/0ioOhLFd4t— Here News (@kann_news) February 15, 2025
Yair Horn was photographed alongside his mother and brother in a helicopter on the way to the hospital, after his release from Hamas captivity. He wrote on the board a message to his brother Eitan Horn, who was kidnapped in Gaza: "Eitan, you're next!".
Ruthie Horn, his mother, was the first to respond and thanked those who accompanied the family throughout the journey. "Thank you very much, give a huge hug to all the people who are there, who have accompanied me since day one." She said excitedly. "I will see Yair soon, and like you said - we will continue until Eitan is here. A big hug to everyone and thank you for all the support.".
Documentation: Yair Horn in an emotional meeting with his brother and mother @gilicohen10 @SuleimanMas1
Photo: IDF Spokesperson pic.twitter.com/Agq3im6N6P— Here News (@kann_news) February 15, 2025
Yair Horn, 45, was also kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. His father, Itzik Horn, did not know that his youngest son Eitan had gone to visit his brother on Kibbutz Nir Oz and that they had both been kidnapped.
Horn was born in Israel, but at the age of two he returned with his family to his country of origin, Argentina. In 1999 he returned to Israel, to Kibbutz Hala. Amos, the middle son, arrived in 2002 and a few months later Eitan also immigrated. Their mother Ruth and her second husband Bernardo settled in Kfar Saba and Eitan lived with them.
His family also said: "We can breathe a little. Our Yair is home after surviving hell and inferno in Gaza. Now, all that remains is to bring Eitan back so that our family can truly breathe. We thank the IDF soldiers and security forces who are sacrificing their souls and bodies and send condolences to the bereaved families who lost the one they loved most for all of us.".
Alexander (Sasha) Tropanov, lived in Tel Aviv with his partner Sapir Cohen. On Black Sabbath, they came to visit his family who live in Nir Oz on the Gaza border, where they were kidnapped along with the entire family and taken prisoner by Hamas. Tropanov is the only one of his family who remained in Hamas captivity in the Strip.
The Tropanov family, some of whom observe Shabbat, met with Sasha, but the recordings of the meetings were published at their request after Shabbat ended.
""I'm fine, you see I'm fine": Sasha Tropanov meets with his mother Yelena and his partner Sapir | Documentation @ItayBlumental
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson) pic.twitter.com/FdzT7Lrdpu— Here News (@kann_news) February 15, 2025
As part of the deal, hundreds of terrorists were released from prisons in Israel today. The Prison Service dressed the prisoners in shirts printed with the Star of David and the Prison Service emblem, alongside the inscription: "We will not forget and we will not forgive.".
According to the Hamas Prisoners' Office, this includes 369 prisoners: 36 of whom are serving life sentences, and another 333 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after October 7. This is the largest number of Gazans released under Phase One of the deal so far. One of the prisoners, Sarahna Namusa, will be released to East Jerusalem. 24 will be deported to other countries.
The family of the captivity survivor Sasha Tropanov She said: “We are overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude for Sasha’s return home, after 498 long and agonizing days in captivity. On October 7, Sasha was brutally kidnapped from his home and shot in both legs. Seeing him today strengthens us and gives us great hope for the long rehabilitation process that awaits him.
This is a moment of immense relief for us, for his friends, and for everyone who held onto hope and prayed for his return. We want to thank the IDF soldiers, the families of the kidnapped, and especially all the citizens of the State of Israel for their embrace, support, and unwavering faith. The prayers of many have been answered today, and we thank everyone who accompanied us on this long journey.
We do not know if he is aware that his father, Vitaly, was murdered on October 7. The news – or lack of news – will completely change the day of his return, from a day of great joy to a day of heavy mourning for his beloved father. Finally, Sasha will be able to be surrounded by his loved ones and embark on a new path. We ask the media and the public to respect his privacy and the emotional and physical rehabilitation process he is about to undergo.”.
The family of the captivity survivor Yair Horn She wanted to convey: "After 498 days, Yair is coming home to us. Now, we can breathe a little. Our Yair is home after surviving hell and inferno in Gaza. Now, all that remains is to bring Eitan back so that our family can truly breathe.".
We thank the IDF soldiers and security forces who are sacrificing their lives and bodies, and send our condolences to the bereaved families who lost the most precious thing to them for all of us. You are forever in our hearts.
"A big thank you to the Nir Oz community that surrounds us and to the families of the kidnapped who accompany us and will continue to accompany us until everyone returns home. We will not stop and will continue to work to return Eitan and all the other kidnapped people home.".
The family of the captivity survivor Sagi Dekel H.She wanted to convey: "Our Sagi is home. A friend, a son, a partner and above all a father and he is back. 498 days, almost 500 days, he was so far away and now he is finally on Israeli soil, with us. In the coming hours he will begin the rehabilitation process, he will meet the girls Gali Weber and meet his little daughter, Shahar, who was born while he was in captivity, for the first time. The heart aches for everything he missed but now he is here, unlike many others.
"It is important for us to emphasize that there are many more families waiting for their loved ones, and many children waiting for their fathers. We did everything we could on all levels to reach this moment, and we will continue to act until the last of the kidnapped return home, it is our duty. Thank you to everyone who supported, did and helped. Thank you to the people of Israel and all partners in the struggle to return Sagi and the rest of the kidnapped.".
The Prime Minister's Office addressed the crisis with Hamas that occurred during the week: "We welcome them with a big hug. We have prepared for their return and together with the families we will assist in their rehabilitation after the long and torturous days in captivity," they added, adding that the terrorist organization "tried to violate the agreement and create a fake crisis with false claims. Thanks to the concentration of our forces in and around the Strip, and thanks to President Trump's clear and unequivocal statement, Hamas backed down and the release of the hostages continued. We are working in full coordination with the United States with the goal of rescuing all of our hostages - alive and dead - as quickly as possible, and are preparing with full force to continue, in all respects.".
Defense Minister Israel Katz welcomed the release of the hostages: "Welcome home, Yair, Sasha, and Sagi. The entire State of Israel embraces you and is happy to see you reunited with your families. The IDF is fully deployed and prepared for any scenario and any attempt by Hamas to violate the agreement and prevent the release of the hostages. Thank you to US President Donald Trump for standing by our side. We will continue to work together with him to ensure that all the hostages return to Israel as soon as possible and that the threat of Palestinian terrorism is crushed and removed from Gaza.".
Otzma Yehudit Chairman, MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, published: "The Israeli government continues to miss opportunities and fail. Instead of adopting President Trump's words and applying hell to Hamas, Prime Minister Netanyahu prefers continued negotiations with the devil and the path of surrender and submission. This is not how a "right-wing government" should operate."
