JERUSALEM. In the final exchange under the first phase of a fragile truce in Gaza, Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages while awaiting the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
The ceasefire, which took effect on January 19, has largely held despite several setbacks. However, with the first phase set to end this week, uncertainty looms over whether the truce will extend into a second phase aimed at ending the war. Hamas has stated that it has not received any proposals regarding the next steps.
After days of deadlock, Egyptian mediators brokered an agreement that saw Hamas deliver the remains of four hostages in exchange for 620 Palestinians either detained by Israeli forces in Gaza or imprisoned in Israel. The handover followed a previous impasse when Israel refused to release prisoners after Hamas presented six hostages in a staged ceremony.
The final exchange, unlike previous transfers, did not include a public display of hostages or coffins. Earlier incidents, where Hamas showcased both living captives and the remains of deceased hostages before handing them over, drew sharp criticism, including from the United Nations.
Israel confirmed in the early hours of Thursday that it had received the bodies of four hostages, identified by Hamas as Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, and Shlomo Mantzur. All four were taken captive during the October 7, 2023, attack on their kibbutz homes near Gaza.
The remains were undergoing initial identification in Israeli territory, with official notification to be provided to the families once the process is complete, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The exchange had previously been delayed after Hamas initially handed over the remains of an unidentified woman instead of Shiri Bibas, later providing the correct body the next day.
A full forensic examination to determine the cause of death for the four hostages will follow, the Israeli health ministry said. According to Israeli authorities, around 30 hostages have died in Gaza, with some allegedly killed by their captors and others during Israeli military operations.
As part of the exchange, Israel agreed to release 620 Palestinian detainees, including 445 men and 24 women and minors arrested in Gaza, as well as 151 prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis, according to a Hamas source.
Live footage showed a bus carrying some of the released Palestinian prisoners leaving Israel’s Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank and arriving in Ramallah, where hundreds had gathered to celebrate their return. Many of the released men, dressed in green jackets and keffiyehs, were lifted onto shoulders in triumph.
Among them was Bilal Yassin, 42, who had been detained in Israel for 20 years. “Our sacrifices and imprisonment were not in vain,” Yassin told Reuters. “We had confidence in the (Palestinian) resistance.”
The timing of the next wave of releases remains unclear.
The first phase of the ceasefire facilitated the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It also led to an Israeli military withdrawal from certain positions in Gaza and allowed for increased humanitarian aid.
However, with the 42-day truce set to expire on Saturday, questions remain over whether an extension will be negotiated. The fate of the remaining 59 Israeli hostages hangs in the balance as discussions on a possible second phase of the deal continue.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
