Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages, completing the final phase of a delicate swap as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement with Israel. The handover took place in the early hours of Thursday, after Egypt’s mediation helped break the deadlock, paving the way for the return of the hostages’ remains in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The ceasefire, which began on January 19, 2025, has largely held, though its continuation remains uncertain as the first phase is set to end this week. Hamas has indicated readiness to begin negotiations for the second phase, which could potentially end the ongoing conflict, but clarity about the next steps is still lacking.
As part of the agreement, Israel received the remains of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, and Shlomo Mantzur, all of whom were abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack near Gaza. The remains were transferred in coffins and are undergoing identification procedures in Israel.
The swap also saw the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody, including individuals arrested in Gaza and those serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis. The prisoners were greeted warmly upon their release in Ramallah, West Bank, with one released detainee, Bilal Yassin, sharing his relief after 20 years of imprisonment.
Despite progress in the prisoner exchange, the future of the ceasefire remains uncertain as the deadline approaches, and it is unclear whether the second phase of the deal will move forward.
