CAIRO – Hamas will return the our bodies of 4 lifeless Israeli hostages on Thursday in alternate for Israel’s launch of a whole bunch of Palestinian prisoners, the group mentioned, simply days earlier than the first phase of the ceasefire between the warring parties was to run out.
Israel has delayed the release of some 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it says is the merciless remedy of hostages throughout their launch by Hamas.
The militant group has mentioned the delay is a “severe violation” of their ceasefire and that talks on a second part will not be attainable till the Palestinians are freed.
Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou informed The Related Press on Wednesday that Hamas would hand over the our bodies of 4 Israelis the following day.
In alternate, Israel would launch the Palestinian prisoners, in addition to an unspecified variety of ladies and minors detained for the reason that militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Israel that sparked the conflict.
An Israeli official confirmed that the our bodies of 4 hostages had been anticipated to be turned over however offered no additional particulars. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to speak to the media.
Israel and Hamas had already mentioned on Tuesday that an settlement had been reached to return the our bodies of the hostages, however no date had been introduced.
Hamas has launched hostages, and the our bodies of 4 lifeless hostages, in massive public ceremonies throughout which the Israelis had been paraded and forced to wave to large crowds.
Israel, together with the Purple Cross and U.N. officers, have mentioned the ceremonies were humiliating to the hostages, and Israel final weekend delayed the scheduled prisoner launch in protest.
The impasse over the alternate had threatened to collapse the ceasefire when the present six-week first part of the deal expires this weekend.
The most recent settlement would full either side’ obligations of the primary part of the ceasefire — throughout which Hamas is returning 33 hostages, together with eight our bodies — in alternate for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
It additionally may clear the way in which for an anticipated go to this week by the White Home’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the area.
Witkoff has mentioned he needs the perimeters to maneuver into negotiations on the second part, throughout which all remaining hostages held by Hamas are to be launched and an finish to the struggle is to be negotiated. The Part 2 talks had been supposed to start weeks in the past, however by no means did.
The ceasefire, brokered by the USA, Egypt and Qatar, ended 15 months of heavy preventing that erupted after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault that killed some 1,200 individuals in Israel and took about 250 individuals hostage.
Israel’s navy offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, in response to Palestinian well being officers, displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population and decimated the territory’s infrastructure and well being system. The Hamas-run Well being Ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilian and militant deaths, but it surely says that over half of the lifeless have been ladies and youngsters.
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Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Related Press author David Rising in Bangkok contributed to this report.
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