Hamas Hands Over Bodies of Four Israeli Hostages in Final Exchange of Ceasefire Deal

New Delhi, Feb 27: Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza as part of the final exchange in the first phase of the ceasefire deal. The bodies were handed over to Israel authorities after crossing over to the Israeli border and the process of identifying the four bodies at the Israel-Gaza border before being sent to Tel Aviv for forensic examination is continuing.

At the same time, a bus carrying Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel has arrived in Ramallah, in the West Bank. More than 600 Palestinian detainees, including over 400 from Gaza who were arrested during the war, are set to be released. Among them are 50 prisoners serving life sentences.

This latest exchange follows an agreement between Hamas and mediators to release 620 Palestinian prisoners, along with an equal number of women and children detained in Gaza.

The process has been carried out more discreetly this time, without any public display, after previous publicised exchanges angered many in Israel. The release of all prisoners is expected to take several hours as Israeli officials wait for forensic confirmation of the hostages’ identities.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening. The UN has urged Israel to allow more tents and shelters into the region after six Palestinian infants died from hypothermia during a cold spell. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 48,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began, with thousands more missing under rubble. In Israel, at least 1,139 people were killed in the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, and more than 200 were taken hostage.

What Comes Next?

With the first phase of the ceasefire complete, attention now turns to the second phase, which is expected to be even more difficult to negotiate. The next step could involve discussions on a more permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, possibly in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners. However, deep mistrust between both sides, as well as political pressure in Israel and Gaza, could complicate progress. Mediators are expected to play a key role in trying to extend the truce and prevent further escalation of violence.