Hamas orchestrated the release of Sasha Trofanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Yair Horn through Khan Yunis, forcing them to appear on a staged platform before transfer to Red Cross custody. The three, held for 498 days, walked independently despite their ordeal.
By afternoon, initial debriefings revealed physical torture of Dekel-Chen and intelligence from Horn about other captives. Netanyahu convened security consultations following Trump's ultimatum expiration, with focus shifting to securing six additional hostages before Ramadan.
Shin Bet launched an investigation into alleged connections between Netanyahu's office and Qatar, while US Senator Rubio arrived in Tel Aviv to support accelerated Phase A implementation. The military establishment supported extending the deal's first phase, including Palestinian gestures, to secure remaining live hostages.