February 15, 2025, New York, NY – The American Jewish Congress is deeply moved to witness the release of Sagui Dekel-Chen (36), Yair Horn (46), and Sasha Troufanov (29) from Hamas and Islamic Jihad captivity. We fervently hope for the swift release of all remaining hostages.
After an especially difficult week, during which Hamas announced it would not release hostages today as per the agreement, we are relieved to see the continued implementation of the deal and the emotional return of Sagui, Yair, and Sasha, who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7th by Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.
After 498 days in captivity, Sagi will meet his daughter for the first time – born while he was held hostage. Yair has been freed, while his brother, who was kidnapped alongside him, remains in captivity. Sasha will finally reunite with his mother, partner, and grandmother, who were released in the previous hostage deal and have been tirelessly fighting for his return.
Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov, and Yair Horn
Sagui, an American citizen, was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. During the attack, his wife, Avital, was pregnant with their daughter, Shachar, who was born while he was in captivity. The couple also has two other daughters, Gali and Bar. Avital recounted in the Knesset the moments before Sagi was taken to Gaza: “Sagi was kidnapped from our home while I was in the shelter with our two daughters, seven months pregnant. Before he was taken, he stepped into the shelter and said that we wouldn’t make it out alive. ‘There’s no army, no soldiers are coming,’ he said. He didn’t want the girls to understand, so he said in English, ‘Milly, it’s over.’”
Yair was abducted from his home in the kibbutz along with his brother, Eitan, who remains in captivity and was not included in the first phase of the deal. Their mother, Ruthie, shared that they received proof of life through hostages released in the previous deal in November. She added: “The hostages’ bathroom was in the room where they were holding Eitan. One day, Yair entered the bathroom. That was the first time they saw each other. The terrorists did not allow them to speak—not even a single word. I can only imagine how much joy they felt exchanging glances.”
Sasha, from Ramat-Gan, was kidnapped alongside his girlfriend, Sapir Cohen, his mother, Yelena, and his grandmother, Irina, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, where he and Sapir had been visiting. The women were released in the November 2023 hostage deal, but Sasha’s father, Vitaly, was murdered in the massacre. Sasha was held by the Islamic Jihad, which released two videos of him speaking to the camera – words likely dictated by his captors: “I have been here for a year, a year without enough food or water, and no electricity.” Throughout the war, and even in the current deal, Hamas assured Russia that Sasha would be freed.
Despite the overwhelming relief and joy at the release of Sagui, Yair, and Sasha, we remain deeply concerned for the 73 remaining hostages still held by the ruthless Hamas terrorist organization. We continue our relentless efforts to ensure the return of every hostage to their families and to Israel.
We will not stop until they are all home.
