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JERUSALEM (AP) — Officials from Israel and Hamas announced on Tuesday that they have finalized an agreement aimed at exchanging the remains of deceased hostages for the liberation of numerous Palestinian detainees. This development aims to prolong the existing fragile ceasefire for a few additional days.
Israel had previously halted the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday, citing concerns regarding the treatment of hostages by Hamas during their repatriation. Hamas labeled this delay a “serious violation” of the ceasefire agreement, asserting that discussions concerning a subsequent phase could not progress unless their demands were met.
This impasse raised fears of a collapse of the ceasefire as the current six-week phase of the agreement approaches its conclusion this weekend.
However, later on Tuesday, Hamas announced that a resolution had been brokered during a visit to Cairo by Khalil al-Hayya, a senior figure within the organization.
This breakthrough seemed to facilitate the return of the remains of four additional dead hostages, along with hundreds of other prisoners due for release as per the terms of the ceasefire.
According to Hamas, the release of prisoners will coincide with the transfer of the bodies of Israeli hostages that have been agreed upon, alongside the liberation of a new group of Palestinian detainees.
An Israeli official, who remained anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that arrangements were in place for the return of the bodies in the upcoming days, though no further information was disclosed.
Reports from Israeli media indicate that the exchange could potentially occur as early as Wednesday. The Ynet news outlet mentioned that the Israeli remains would likely be transferred to Egyptian authorities without any public acknowledgment.
Notably, Hamas has previously conducted public ceremonies for returning hostages and the bodies of deceased captives, during which the released individuals were paraded for onlookers. In contrast, Israel, along with organizations like the Red Cross and U.N. representatives, has expressed disapproval, deeming these events humiliating for the hostages, which contributed to Israel’s recent delay of the planned prisoner release.
The latest agreement is poised to fulfill the obligations of both factions in the initial phase of the ceasefire, during which Hamas is returning 33 hostages, including eight bodies, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Moreover, this development may pave the way for an anticipated visit by Steve Witkoff, the White House’s Mideast envoy, to the region. Witkoff has expressed his intent to facilitate the commencement of negotiations for a second phase, aimed at the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict. Talks for this second phase were initially scheduled to initiate weeks ago but have yet to commence.
The ceasefire, which was mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, put an end to 15 months of intense hostilities that erupted following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals.
According to Palestinian health officials, Israel’s military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians, displacing approximately 90% of Gaza’s population and devastating the region’s infrastructure and healthcare systems. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant fatalities, but it claims that more than half of the deceased individuals are women and children.
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Sewell reported from Beirut.
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