 "Hamas to return bodies of 4 slain hostages without public ceremony")
Hamas will not carry out a public ceremony when it handovers the bodies of the next batch of slain hostages ’tonight’, an official told AFP on Wednesday.
“The handover will take place without public presence to prevent the occupation from finding any pretext for delay or obstruction,” the official said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has confirmed the announcement, saying, “In accordance with Israeli demands, an agreement was reached with the mediators: our four fallen hostages will be returned tonight as part of phase A (of the ceasefire deal), in an agreed-upon procedure and without Hamas ceremonies.”
Under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, Hamas has held public ceremonies to repatriate 24 live hostages to Israel, drawing condemnation from around the world, including from the United Nations.
It also handed over the bodies of four hostages, after first displaying the coffins on stage in front of a large crowd.
However, after Saturday’s handover of six living hostages, Israel suspended the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, insisting it would free them only after Hamas halted these “humiliating ceremonies.”
Who are the 4 slain hostages?
Hamas has agreed to return the bodies of Shlomo Mantzur, Ohad Yahalomi, Tzachi Idan and Itzik Elgarat in exchange for 600 Palestinian prisoners that Israel refused to release last week.
The men were abducted during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza. Egyptian officials stated that the release of Palestinian prisoners would take place at the same time. Hamas has confirmed the agreement.
Second phase of Gaza ceasefire
Meanwhile, the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire is due to expire this weekend. The United States said talks were on track for a second phase of the ceasefire deal that has largely held but whose complexity and long-drawn-out implementation have highlighted its fragility.
In Washington, US President Donald Trump’s top envoy on the Middle East said Israeli representatives were en route to talks on the next phase of the ceasefire deal.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“We’re making a lot of progress. Israel is sending a team right now as we speak,” Steve Witkoff told an event for the American Jewish Committee.
With inputs from agencies
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