Hamas returns bodies of four hostages and Israel releases hundreds of Palestinians : NPR

TEL AVIV, Israel — The Palestinian militant group Hamas returned the our bodies of 4 Israelis taken hostage throughout the Oct. 7, 2023, assault after which Israel launched a whole lot of Palestinian prisoners and detainees beneath a six-week-old ceasefire set to run out this weekend.

Negotiations to hammer out particulars of the second part of the ceasefire deal have been supposed to start earlier this month. President Trump’s Center East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is predicted to return to the area this weekend. The primary part of the ceasefire expires Saturday.

Late Wednesday, Hamas returned the our bodies of Itzhak Elgarat, 69; Tsachi Idan, 50; Ohad Yahalomi, 50; and 86-year-old Shlomo Mantzur. They have been among the many greater than 250 individuals taken hostage within the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel that killed round 1,200 individuals and sparked the warfare in Gaza. Greater than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed within the battle, in keeping with Gaza well being ministry assessments.

Wednesday’s hostage return was in contrast to previous hostage releases in that Hamas didn’t maintain a ceremony to showcase the coffins. As an alternative, the militants handed the stays to the Worldwide Committee of the Purple Cross, which transported them to Israel in ambulances.

Israeli consultants to substantiate identities

Israeli forensic consultants examined the hostage stays to substantiate their identities, in keeping with the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board.

Hamas returned the stays of an unidentified lady in a ceremony final week as a substitute of the physique of 32-year-old Shiri Bibas. Her stays have been returned a day later. On Wednesday, Israelis lined the streets to look at the funeral procession for Bibas and her two younger sons, Kfir and Ariel, who have been nine-months-old and 4 years previous respectively after they have been taken hostage with their mom, and whose our bodies have been additionally returned and recognized final week.

Hamas claims the household have been killed in an Israeli air strike. Israeli forensic consultants examined the our bodies and the Israeli army stated they have been “brutally murdered” by their captors, however didn’t present additional particulars of their reason behind dying.

Bibas’ husband, Yarden, who additionally had been held hostage in Gaza, was launched alive earlier this month.

In alternate for the our bodies of the hostages returned late Wednesday, Israel early Thursday launched greater than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, most of them to the occupied Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Financial institution. Some have been despatched to Egypt to be exiled beneath the deal. Movies confirmed detainees bowing right down to the bottom in prayer as quickly as they received off a Purple Cross bus in Gaza.

In keeping with Palestinian officers, the returned Palestinians have been to incorporate 45 ladies and minors detained since Oct. 7, 2023. However the launch of 24 of the ladies and minors was going to be delayed till forensic officers completed figuring out the stays of the returned hostage our bodies, an Israeli official instructed NPR.

Israel had delayed the discharge of greater than 600 Palestinians after Hamas on Saturday paraded freed Israeli hostages in what Israeli officers described as a humiliating method at ceremonies in Gaza forward of their launch.

Part one in every of ceasefire expires on Sunday

Both sides accused the opposite of violating the ceasefire, which got here into impact Jan. 19. However an settlement for the alternate was reached Wednesday with Egypt negotiating. The perimeters agreed that there could be no Hamas ceremonies for the hostage our bodies and in alternate Israel would launch the Palestinian detainees and prisoners whose freedom had been held up since Saturday.

After the newest exchanges, 59 hostages stay held in Gaza, a minimum of half of whom are believed lifeless, in keeping with Israeli officers.

The ceasefire in Gaza ended 15 months of battle and was brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt.

In feedback to reporters in Washington, Trump stated that whether or not or not the primary part of the deal is prolonged is as much as Israel.

“That is a call that must be made by Israel, by Bibi, however Israel has to make that call,” stated Trump. “Part one goes to be ending.”