Israel receives bodies of four hostages in exchange for 602 Palestinian prisoners

The agreement between Hamas and Israel calls for the return of the bodies in the evening, without public ceremonies

Hamas will hand over the bodies of four hostages today in exchange for the release of 602 Palestinian detainees who should have been released last Saturday as part of the cease-fire agreement. “The Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades decided to hand over the bodies of four hostages this evening,” the Hamas armed wing said, providing the names of the prisoners. However, Israeli authorities have not yet officially confirmed the identities of those involved.

According to Al Jazeera reports, the release is scheduled for tonight at 11 p.m. local Israeli time. Hamas is expected to hand over the remains of Tsahi Idan, Ohad Yahalomi, Itzik Elgarat and Shlomo Mantzur.

Meanwhile, Khan Yunis European Hospital, located in the Gaza Strip, is preparing to receive Palestinian prisoners who will be released. They are expected to arrive between 10 p.m. and midnight today as part of the agreement signed between Hamas and Israel.

“The handover of the four bodies of the Israeli hostages will take place without the presence of the public in order to prevent Israel from finding pretexts for postponements or obstructionism,” a Hamas official said, speaking anonymously to the Afp news agency. This decision came after incidents in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks during the release of more hostages and the handover of the bodies of prisoners as part of the first phase of the agreement.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the news, pointing out that Israel will receive the bodies of the four hostages from Gaza tonight without any public ceremony, as previously arranged by Hamas. “In accordance with Israeli demands, an agreement was reached with the mediators: our four fallen hostages will be returned tonight as part of Phase A of the cease-fire agreement, according to an agreed procedure and without ceremony on the part of Hamas,” read a note from the prime minister’s office.

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