Israel has received four coffins said to contain the remains of Israeli hostages as part of an overnight exchange with Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. This exchange is part of the fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, set to expire this weekend unless extended. The remains of hostages Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, and Shlomo Mantzur, who were captured in a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, were handed over by Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades.
Israel is expected to release 642 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including women, children, detainees held without charge, and those serving life sentences. The handover of the remains and prisoners was conducted privately, with the Israeli Prime Minister's Office emphasizing a respectful procedure without Hamas ceremonies.
The Red Cross facilitated the transfer of the coffins to Israel for identification, while buses carrying released Palestinian detainees arrived in Gaza. Emotional scenes unfolded as prisoners reunited with their families, with some prisoners showing signs of weakness and frailty.
In Ramallah, jubilant reunions took place as Palestinian prisoners were released in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Among the released detainees is Nael Barghouti, the longest-serving Palestinian political prisoner, who has been in and out of prison since 1978.
Advocates have raised concerns about the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention, with reports of deaths among detainees since the 2023 conflict. The release of prisoners and remains marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to maintain the ceasefire and work towards a lasting peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.
