Abdelrahman
Hamas Announces Handover of Israeli Hostages’ Remains Amid Ongoing Ceasefire
On Thursday morning, Hamas reported having delivered the remains of four Israeli hostages to the Israeli military, coinciding with Israel’s initiation of the release of Palestinian prisoners. This significant exchange occurs during the delicate early phase of a ceasefire agreement.
The military wing of Hamas disclosed the identities of the four hostages on Wednesday, naming them as Ohad Yahalomi, Itzhak Elgarat, Shlomo Mansour, and Tsachi Idan. Their ages spanned from 49 to 85 at the time they were captured, and their remains were part of a transaction for a group of Palestinian detainees incarcerated in Israel.
In contrast to previous exchanges that featured elaborate ceremonies denounced by Israel as "humiliating," this handover proceeded without any ostentation or formalities.
Meanwhile, Palestinian television broadcasted live images on Thursday of a white bus along with two vehicles marked with the emblem of the International Committee of the Red Cross, leaving Ofer Prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and heading toward Ramallah. As prisoners emerged from the bus, the anticipation grew, with hundreds more expected to be released once Israel had positively identified the remains handed over.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that the coffins were transferred to the Israeli military with mediation from Egypt. In a statement, his office noted, "A preliminary identification process has now begun in Israel. Families of the hostages will receive continuous updates, and they will be officially notified once the full identification is completed."
Given a previous incident where Hamas mistakenly identified a female hostage during another exchange, Israeli health officials indicated that forensic specialists would promptly work on confirming the identities of the remains. After verification, additional Palestinian prisoners are anticipated to be released by the Israeli military.
This recent development marks a critical moment in the ongoing negotiations and humanitarian efforts amid a complex and fragile peace process.
