
https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2023-07-19T151444Z_1996768169_RC2D62AZWRPK_RTRMADP_3_ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-GAZA-HAMAS-e1696963050652-1024×650-1.jpg
The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages while it waited for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel in return, in an overnight exchange marking the final swap as part of a fragile truce in Gaza.
Recall that the ceasefire came into effect on January 19 and has largely held, despite numerous setbacks.
However, its first phase is due to end this week and the fate of its next phase, which aims to end the war, remains unclear.
Hamas on Thursday said that it was ready to start talks on the second phase, and that the only way remaining hostages would be freed is through commitment to the ceasefire.
After days of impasse, Egyptian mediators on Wednesday secured the handover of the bodies of the final four hostages in the deal’s first phase, for 620 Palestinians either detained by Israeli forces in Gaza or jailed in Israel.
Recall that Israel had refused to release prisoners on Saturday after Hamas handed over six hostages in a staged ceremony.
The militant group had been displaying living hostages and coffins carrying hostage remains on stage in front of a crowd in Gaza before handing them over, to sharp criticism including from the United Nations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in the early hours of Thursday that Israel received coffins carrying the remains of the four hostages.
Hamas had previously identified the bodies as those of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzur, all of whom were abducted during the October 7, 2023 attack from their kibbutz homes near Gaza.
In a statement by Netanyahu’s office, the bodies were undergoing initial identification in Israeli territory and official notice would be given to the hostages’ families once the process is complete.
The handover agreement had also been held up previously after Hamas handed over the remains of an unidentified Palestinian woman instead of Shiri Bibas, before delivering the correct body the next day.
Medics said the unidentified woman’s body was sent back to a Gaza hospital on Thursday.
Comment and Earn N5.... comments are approved manually by admin.. Comment must be long and from the post.. short comments will not be approved