Hamas official says the militant group will release three hostages on Saturday

Iair Horn, 46, is an Argentine Israeli who was also kidnapped from his home in kibbutz Nir Oz along with his brother Eitan Horn, 38, who remains in captivity.

Sasha Alexander Troufanov, 29, is a Russian Israeli who was abducted along with his family in kibbutz Nir Oz. His father was murdered in captivity, while his female relatives were released last November. Troufanov will be freed separately by the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad, the group said Friday.

Hamas’ announcement comes after it reversed a warning issued Thursday that it would indefinitely postpone hostage-prisoner swaps over Israeli violations of the truce, after holding talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Wednesday.

Under the first phase of the deal, due to last 42 days, Hamas has incrementally released 16 of 33 hostages.

During the Hamas-led terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023, 1,200 people were killed and 251 captured, according to Israeli officials.

The ensuing military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and forcibly displaced most of its 2.3 million population.