Hamas Declares Returning Bodies of Two Israeli Hostages
(MENAFN) The Palestinian faction Hamas announced on Thursday that it will hand over the remains of two Israeli hostages later this evening, as part of an ongoing ceasefire accord.
According to a declaration posted on Telegram by the group’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, the bodies are scheduled to be transferred at 4 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).
Earlier, an Israeli national broadcaster, reported that arrangements were being made to receive the two bodies from Hamas within the next several hours.
This expected handover occurs just two days after Israel carried out air raids across the Gaza Strip, which killed over 100 Palestinians, despite the truce being in effect.
Authorities in Tel Aviv asserted that the strikes were a response to a shooting incident that claimed the life of an Israeli soldier in Rafah. However, Hamas denied any role in the attack and reaffirmed its adherence to the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
To date, Hamas has freed 20 Israeli captives alive and returned the remains of 17 out of 28 hostages, the majority of whom were Israeli, as part of the first phase of the truce arrangement.
Nonetheless, Tel Aviv contended that one of the bodies handed over was not among its nationals.
The ceasefire officially commenced on October 10, following US President Donald Trump’s 20-point initiative.
Under the initial stage of this deal, Israeli hostages are to be exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
The plan further outlines the reconstruction of Gaza and the creation of a new administrative framework that would exclude Hamas from governance.
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