Hamas has announced that they will be returning the bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages on Thursday in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. This development comes just days before the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire between the two conflicting parties.
Israel had delayed the release of approximately 600 Palestinian prisoners in protest of what they deemed as the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas. The militant group has labeled this delay as a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement and has stated that talks on a second phase cannot proceed until the Palestinian prisoners are freed.
Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou confirmed that the bodies of the four Israelis would be handed over the following day. In return, Israel is expected to release the Palestinian prisoners, along with a number of women and minors who have been detained since the group's attack on Israel in October 2023 that triggered the conflict.
An Israeli official acknowledged that the bodies of the four hostages were set to be returned but did not provide further details. It was also mentioned that there would be no public ceremony during the exchange.
The agreement to return the hostages' bodies had been reached earlier in the week, and this exchange will fulfill both sides' obligations of the first phase of the ceasefire. The completion of this exchange could pave the way for further negotiations in the second phase, which aims to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and negotiate an end to the conflict.
The ceasefire, facilitated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, brought an end to 15 months of intense fighting that began after Hamas' attack on southern Israel in 2023. The conflict resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with Palestinian health officials reporting over 48,000 deaths and an estimated 90% of Gaza's population being displaced.
