HAMAS has handed over the bodies of four more hostages to Israel. Reports indicate that the remains of 49-year-old Tzachi Idan and Ohad Yaholomi, 69-year-old Yitzhak Elgart, and 85-year-old Shlomo Mansour have been returned. The Israeli authorities have sent the deceased for forensic examination, which is expected to confirm their identities.
In response, the Israeli side released over 600 Palestinian prisoners, whose release was initially scheduled for last Saturday but was postponed. Israel is also returning to the Gaza Strip the body of a Palestinian woman who was originally given to HAMAS in exchange for the body of Shiri Bibas.
The majority of the prisoners have been sent to the Gaza Strip, some to the West Bank, and others to Egypt.
This marks the latest exchange between Israel and HAMAS as part of the first phase of the ceasefire. HAMAS has already stated that the remaining hostages will only be released after a long-term ceasefire agreement is reached and has expressed readiness to begin negotiations for the second phase of the agreement.