Israel has begun the release of more than 600 Palestinians, including a number of women and children, just days before the first phase of the ceasefire agreement is due to expire.
On Thursday morning, following a series of delays by Israel, authorities started to hand over prisoners who returned to emotional scenes and loved ones in the West Bank and Gaza.
According to reports, dozens of Palestinians have so far been released out of a total of 642 that are expected to be handed over to their loved ones.
As part of the agreement, Hamas handed over the bodies of four hostages in a private exchange that were then returned to Israel.
Jubilant yet bitter-sweet scenes have been reported across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as former captives embraced their family members while spoke of others still imprisoned.
“We were handcuffed and blindfolded for 90 days, you see no one and no one sees us. And we used to sit on our knees or our buttocks for 18 or 20 hours,” one former prisoner from Gaza told Reuters. “Our joy is not complete because there are prisoners left behind.”
It’s understood that this will mark the final hostage exchange before the ceasefire terms are due to expire on Saturday, casting uncertainty over the future of peace in the region.
The latest release has also been marred by delays after Israel initially postponed the release of the Palestinian prisoners in protest of Hamas’ handover ceremonies.
During a previous exchange, Israeli captives appeared to kiss the Hamas fighters on the forehead as they were handed over to Israel.
Having already delayed previous handovers of Palestinian prisoners, the move further cast uncertainty over whether the ceasefire deal would hold.
Israel has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians during a 15-month military campaign that turned the Gaza Strip into rubble.
A fragile ceasefire was brokered in January 2025, which finally brought some peace to Palestinian civilians that had lived under the fear of rocket attacks for more than a year.
However, they return to destroyed homes and freezing temperatures that have seen at least six Palestinian infants freeze in the last two weeks, according to reports.
It’s unclear whether the ceasefire agreement will be extended at this point.
The first phase of the ceasefire deal is due to expire on Saturday, with discussions about the second phase yet to progress. If the ceasefire is held, both sides will likely secure the release of more captives.
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu recently said he’s prepared to resume attacks on the Gaza Strip “at any moment,” vowing to achieve their aims “whether through negotiation or by other means”.
