JERUSALEM — On Saturday, three individuals who were held hostage in the Gaza Strip for over 16 months were released. This development increased the total number of freed captives to 24 since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas initiated on January 19.

The released hostages are Sagui Dekel Chen, Iair Horn, and Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, all of whom are Israeli civilians with dual citizenship. They were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. As part of the ceasefire negotiations, 33 hostages are expected to be released from Gaza—of which eight have been confirmed dead—while nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel are to be exchanged. In a separate agreement, five Thai nationals, employed in Israel during the assault, were freed last month.

The ceasefire and hostage releases have created a mixture of optimism and anxiety among the Israeli populace. Concerns persist regarding the potential collapse of the agreement before all hostages can be safely returned, and there is apprehension that the death toll among the captives may surpass estimates. In total, Hamas militants captured 251 individuals during their October 7 attack, with more than 70 still believed to be in Gaza, although nearly half of them are presumed dead.

Israel’s military operations in Gaza have reportedly resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian fatalities, according to statements from Gaza’s Health Ministry. This figure does not specify how many were combatants but indicates that over half of the casualties were women and children.

Here is a look at the individuals released so far:

Sagui Dekel Chen, aged 36, holds American-Israeli citizenship and was engaged in converting buses into homes when militants invaded his kibbutz. He advised his wife, Avital, to secure themselves in a safe room with their daughters. Chen was one of the first to alert others of the intruders and was subsequently captured. When the attack occurred, Avital was seven months pregnant; she later gave birth to their third daughter in December 2023. Chen has a passion for tennis and co-established an arts center for youth in southern Israel.

Iair Horn, 46, an Israel-Argentinian, was kidnapped alongside his brother Eitan, who remains unaccounted for. Horn managed the local pub at the kibbutz and is an enthusiastic soccer fan. Friends gathered at the pub to celebrate Horn’s release, demonstrating their support and relief.

Sasha Troufanov, 29, an Israeli-Russian, was taken captive with three family members. His father was killed during the initial attack, while other relatives were freed previously in a ceasefire. Troufanov is an engineer with Amazon, and his family immigrated to Israel from the Soviet Union approximately 25 years ago.

Eli Sharabi, 52, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri, where he lost his British-born wife and teenage daughters during the assault. His neighborhood showed signs of destruction months after the attack, including bullet holes and burned homes.

Ohad Ben Ami, 56, a father of three, was abducted with his wife, who was subsequently released during a previous ceasefire. Friends describe him as a passionate advocate for nature.

Or Levy, 34, was taken from a bomb shelter at the Nova music festival. His wife died during the attack, and his son has been cared for by relatives. Levy was taken alongside several others, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who did not survive captivity.

Yarden Bibas, 35, was also taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and his release has generated concern over the safety of his wife and children, who may have died in an airstrike.

Keith Siegel, 65, was abducted with his wife from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She has been vocal in her efforts for the release of her husband, recounting their shared experiences during captivity.

Ofer Kalderon, 54, is a French-Israeli whose teenage children were also kidnapped but later released during the ceasefire.

Arbel Yehoud, 29, was taken from her kibbutz alongside her boyfriend. A third-generation resident, her friends held an event to honor her during captivity.

Agam Berger, 20, was a soldier abducted just two months after enlisting, with footage of her abduction showing her injured.

Veteran hostage Gadi Moses, 80, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz; he was an essential part of the community agricultural program.

Among the Thai workers swept up in the violence, several have been released through negotiations between their government and Hamas, while many others remain missing.

The international focus remains on the fate of the hostages and the potential for continued dialogue aimed at their return, as families and communities continue to call for action and support.

The situation continues to develop, with hopes for peace and the safe return of all individuals held in captivity.