Jerusalem, Feb 27: Early Thursday, Hamas transferred the remains of four deceased hostages to the Red Cross in exchange for Israel’s release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, just days before the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire is set to conclude.
An Israeli security official confirmed the handover of the bodies to the Red Cross, facilitated by Egyptian mediators at an Israeli crossing, with identification procedures now underway.
In parallel, a Red Cross convoy departed from Israel’s Ofer prison, carrying numerous released Palestinian prisoners. Crowds of family members and supporters gathered in Beitunia, eager to catch a glimpse of the bus as it passed by.
Israel had postponed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday (February 22, 2025), citing concerns over the treatment of hostages during the transfer by Hamas. Hamas described this delay as a “serious violation” of the ceasefire and insisted that further negotiations for the next phase were contingent on the release of Palestinian detainees.
On Wednesday (February 26, 2025), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the return of the bodies would occur without a ceremonial event, contrasting past Hamas releases which involved orchestrated public displays. Israel, along with the Red Cross and U.N. representatives, has deemed these ceremonies degrading for the hostages.
The group of detainees released early Thursday included many from Gaza, who had been held for months on suspicion of militant activities following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. This group consisted of 445 men, 21 teenagers, and one woman, based on lists provided by Palestinian officials, though exact age details were not included.
Approximately 50 Palestinians will be released into the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem during this round. Those sentenced to life for deadly attacks against Israelis will be exiled from Palestinian territories to Egypt temporarily until they can be accepted by other countries.
This transfer fulfills both parties’ commitments under the initial phase of the ceasefire, during which Hamas returned 33 hostages, including eight deceased individuals, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The family of a hostage in Gaza was notified of his death, confirming that he was among those whose remains would be returned to Israel. The specifics of the notification were not disclosed, though such communications typically come from Israel’s military.
Tsachi Idan, who was abducted from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, was among those mentioned. His daughter, Maayan, tragically lost her life during the attack, as armed militants breached their safe room. A live broadcast from Hamas showed the family under siege, with the younger children pleading for their release.
Following the delivery of the four Israeli hostages’ bodies, Hamas asserted that Israel must now engage in negotiations for the ceasefire’s second phase. In a Telegram statement, they emphasized that the process of returning their fallen comrades was synchronized with the release of Palestinian prisoners, urging that negotiations for the next steps must commence.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in support of Israeli-French hostage Ohad Yahalomi, whose body was also expected to be surrendered: “In these hours of suspended pain and anxiety, the nation stands by their side.” The fragile ceasefire is at risk with the six-week initial phase set to conclude this weekend. U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed hope for advancing discussions on a second phase, wherein all remaining hostages held by Hamas would be released, leading to negotiations for a lasting cessation of hostilities.
Discussions regarding the next phase were initially intended to begin in the first week of February.
The ceasefire was brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, bringing an end to 15 months of conflict that followed Hamas’ October 2023 assault on southern Israel, claiming around 1,200 lives and resulting in approximately 250 hostages.
Israel’s military offensives have led to over 48,000 Palestinian fatalities, as reported by Palestinian health authorities, who do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but state that a significant portion of the deceased are women and children.
Furthermore, the ongoing conflict has led to the displacement of around 90% of Gaza’s residents and has severely damaged the territory’s infrastructure and healthcare system.
On Wednesday (February 26, 2025), crowds of tens of thousands of Israelis lined the roads to honor the funeral of a mother and her two young sons, who were killed while held captive in Gaza. Their bodies were returned to Israel earlier this month.
Israeli officials have indicated that forensic analysis suggests the children were killed by their captors in November 2023. In contrast, Hamas claims that the family perished alongside their captors during an Israeli airstrike.
The husband and father, Yarden Bibas, was abducted separately but eventually released alive in another transfer. Their burial took place in a private ceremony near Kibbutz Nir Oz, close to Gaza, where they lived before the abduction. The family was laid to rest in a joint grave next to Shiri’s parents, who also lost their lives during the attack.
As the cold snap continues in Gaza, health officials have reported yet another infant death due to hypothermia, bringing the total to seven in the past two weeks. Dr. Munir al-Boursh, the director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, stated that the child, under two months old, succumbed to the intense cold affecting the region.
Temperatures have dipped below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) at night, with the recent days proving particularly frigid. (Agencies)
