KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Hamas handed over 4 lifeless hostages to the Crimson Cross early Thursday in alternate for Israel’s launch of tons of of Palestinian prisoners, days earlier than the primary part of the ceasefire within the Gaza Strip was to finish.
An Israeli safety official confirmed that Hamas handed the hostages’ our bodies to the Crimson Cross. Israel stated the caskets had been delivered with the assistance of Egyptian mediators by way of an Israeli crossing and an identification course of had begun.
At across the identical time, a Crimson Cross convoy carrying a number of dozen launched Palestinian prisoners left Israel’s Ofer jail. Crowds of cheering households, buddies and supporters gathered within the West Financial institution city of Beitunia, jostling for a glimpse of the bus because it arrived.
Effectively-wishers greeted the launched prisoners, hugging them and snapping pictures. One launched synthetic a victory signal as he was carried on the shoulders of supporters, with the gang chanted “God is Nice.”
Lots of of different prisoners had been to be despatched to Gaza, a lot of them detained after the Oct. 7, 2023, assaults and by no means charged.
Israel had delayed the discharge of over 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it known as the merciless therapy of hostages throughout their handover by Hamas. The militant group has known as the delay a “severe violation” of the ceasefire and stated talks on a second part aren’t doable till the Palestinians are freed.
Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated the newest launch of hostages’ our bodies could be carried out with out ceremony, versus previous Hamas releases with stage-managed occasions in entrance of crowds. Israel, together with the Crimson Cross and U.N. officers, have known as the ceremonies humiliating for the hostages.
Amongst these scheduled to go away Israel early Thursday had been tons of of detainees arrested from Gaza, held on suspicion of militancy after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault, with out cost for months. They embody 445 males, 21 youngsters and one lady who had been all arrested after the Hamas assault, in accordance with lists shared by Palestinian officers that didn’t specify their ages.
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Solely round 50 Palestinians had been launched into the occupied West Financial institution and east Jerusalem on this spherical. Dozens sentenced to life over lethal assaults in opposition to Israelis will likely be exiled out of the Palestinian territories, taken to Egypt no less than quickly till different nations settle for them.
The handover would full either side’ obligations below the ceasefire’s first part, throughout which Hamas returned 33 hostages, together with eight our bodies, in alternate for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The household of a hostage in Gaza stated it was notified he’s lifeless and his physique was amongst these to be returned to Israel. The household didn’t say who knowledgeable them. Notifications usually come from Israel’s navy.
Tsachi Idan was taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. His eldest daughter, Maayan, was killed as militants shot by way of the door of the protected room. Hamas militants broadcast themselves on Fb holding the household hostage of their house as two youthful kids pleaded to allow them to go.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X about Israeli-French hostage Ohad Yahalomi, whose physique was additionally anticipated to be launched: “In these suspended hours of ache and anguish, the nation stands by their aspect.”
A fragile ceasefire in peril
The ceasefire’s six-week first part expires this weekend. U.S. President Donald Trump’s Center East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has stated he desires the perimeters to maneuver into negotiations on the second part, throughout which all remaining hostages held by Hamas could be launched and an finish to the battle could be negotiated.
Talks on the second part had been supposed to start the primary week of February.
The ceasefire, brokered by the USA, Egypt and Qatar, ended 15 months of battle that erupted after Hamas’ 2023 assault on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 folks. About 250 folks had been taken hostage.
Israel’s navy offensive has killed greater than 48,000 Palestinians, in accordance with Palestinian well being officers, who do not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths however say over half the lifeless have been ladies and youngsters.
The preventing additionally displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s inhabitants and decimated the territory’s infrastructure and well being system.
Israel buries mom, sons killed in captivity
On Wednesday, tens of 1000’s of Israelis lined highways because the our bodies of a mom and her two younger sons, killed in captivity in Gaza, had been taken for burial on Wednesday.
The our bodies of Shiri Bibas and her sons, 9-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel, had been handed over earlier this month.
Israel says forensic proof exhibits the youngsters had been killed by their captors in November 2023, whereas Hamas says the household was killed together with their guards in an Israeli airstrike.
The husband and father, Yarden Bibas, was kidnapped individually and launched alive in a distinct handover. His spouse and their kids had been buried in a personal ceremony close to Kibbutz Nir Oznear Gaza, the place they had been dwelling once they had been kidnapped. They had been buried in a joint grave subsequent to Shiri’s dad and mom, who had been killed within the assault.
One other toddler in Gaza dies of hypothermia
With folks dwelling in tent camps and broken buildings in Gaza in chilly climate, well being officers stated one other toddler had died of hypothermia Wednesday, bringing the toll to seven over the previous two weeks.
Dr. Munir al-Boursh, director normal of Gaza’s Well being Ministry, stated the infant lower than two months outdated died as a result of “extreme chilly wave” that has hit the Palestinian enclave.
Temperatures have been under 10 levels Celsius (50 levels Fahrenheit) at evening and the previous few days have been notably chilly.
Federman reported from Jerusalem. Magdy reported from Cairo.
The video within the participant above is from an earlier report.
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