Palestinian groups hand over 3 Israeli captives in Gaza exchange deal

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Saraya Al-Quds, the armed faction of Islamic Jihad, handed over three Israeli captives, including a dual US national and a dual Russian national, on Saturday as part of the sixth phase of the ongoing prisoner exchange deal with Israel.

cumhuriyet.com.tr

The handover of Alexander (Sasha) Turbanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Yair Horn to the International Red Cross Committee took place east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

The brigades also gave one of the three Israeli hostages an hourglass bearing the words "Time is running out" in three languages intended for the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the correspondent added.

Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed in a statement that the hostages had been handed over to an Israeli force and Shin Bet unit inside Gaza.

Hamas has so far released 19 Israelis in exchange for 766 Palestinians released from Israeli jails, including women and children.

Israel on Saturday is set to release 369 Palestinian detainees as part of the deal.

A ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza on Jan. 19, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

Last November the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.