Hamas Takes a Swipe at Donald Trump's Gaza Plan During Release of Hostages

The hostages appeared pale and in some cases thin but in better physical condition than those released last week

- Anat Peled, Feliz Solomon & Summer Said

Hamas released three hostages, including the last living American-Israeli civilian held in the Gaza Strip, and took a swing at President Trump's plan for rebuilding the enclave on Saturday, in a propaganda-tinged event that was nevertheless calmer than many previous releases.

The release took place in the city of Khan Younis in front of the destroyed home of Yahya Sinwar, the militant group's late leader who orchestrated the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks before being killed by Israel last fall.

On the stage set up for the event, Hamas hung a banner that read, "No migration except to Jerusalem"—a retort to Trump's proposal for the U.S. to take control of Gaza and redevelop the seaside enclave after removing its inhabitants.

Trump has said neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt should take in the displaced Palestinians while Gaza is rebuilt, an idea that was swiftly rejected by Arab and many Western governments.

Hamas freed American-Israeli Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, Russian-Israeli Sasha Troufanov, 29, and Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn, 46, after negotiators resolved a dispute this week over the delivery of humanitarian aid that threatened to derail the group's shaky cease-fire with Israel.

All three men were forced to speak on stage before they were transferred to the Red Cross and taken back into Israel by the military.

They appeared pale and in some cases thin but in better physical condition than hostages released last week. While a large crowd gathered to watch the event, the scene was less chaotic than in some previous hostage releases, episodes that drew complaints from Israel.

Hamas cast uncertainty over the exchange early in the week, when it threatened to suspend the return of hostages to protest delays in the delivery of tents and mobile shelters to Gaza, where the war has flattened civilian infrastructure and displaced most of the population.

Hamas blamed Israel for the holdup.