From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Gantz hails 3 hostages’ return as helping revive Kibbutz Nir Oz, but adds 20 locals are still captive
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The return of hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov and Iair Horn marks “another milestone on the path to restoration, construction and life” for Kibbutz Nir Oz, from which all three men were abducted on October 7, 2023, says National Unity party chief Benny Gantz of the opposition.
“In order for Nir Oz to be rebuilt, its children and all the hostages must be returned,” he tweets. “But the road is not yet complete. Seventy-three hostages are still in captivity, about 20 of them residents of Nir Oz, and we are committed to returning them all. Sasha, Sagui and Iair, welcome home.”
