Hamas hands over four Israeli hostages’ bodies as ceasefire’s first phase nears end
Members of Hamas' armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, carry a coffin believed to contain the remains of one of the Bibas children, who were taken captive along with their parents during the group's Oct. 7, 2023 attack, through a cemetery in Bani Suheila, Khan Younis, southern Gaza, to be handed over to Red Cross personnel Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty
As the ongoing first phase of the ceasefire deal in the war-torn Gaza nears its end, Hamas has handed over what it says are the bodies of four Israeli hostages from Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Early on Thursday, Israel began releasing more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, with dozens returned to the occupied West Bank and Gaza, where they were met by jubilant crowds.
It will be the final exchange of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which is due to end on Saturday.
The ceasefire, which began on January 19, has largely held despite setbacks. However, with its first phase set to expire this week, the next steps toward ending the war remain uncertain, as Hamas claims it has not received any new proposals.
Following negotiations by Egyptian mediators, Hamas handed over the remains of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, and Shlomo Mantzur, all of whom were abducted in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli kibbutzim near Gaza. Israeli forensic teams are expected to confirm their identities.
Israel had previously refused to release prisoners on Saturday, citing Hamas’s staged ceremony displaying hostages and coffins, an act sharply criticized by the UN. This time, the final handover occurred without such theatrics.
In exchange, Israel is expected to release 620 Palestinian prisoners, including 445 men, 24 women and minors, and 151 prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis.
Some of the freed detainees arrived in Ramallah, greeted by cheering crowds.
The first phase of the ceasefire has so far seen 33 Israeli hostages exchanged for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
However, with the 42-day truce expiring on Saturday, it remains uncertain whether further negotiations will proceed or if the ceasefire will be extended to secure the release of 59 remaining Israeli hostages.
