FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages while hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released by Israel, in the latest exchange as part of the Gaza ceasefire.
The ceasefire came into effect on January 19 and has been generally respected, despite numerous obstacles. But its first phase is due to end this week and is aimed at ending the fighting. Hamas said it had not received any proposals so far.
After several days of stalemate, Egyptian mediators secured the handover of the bodies of the last four hostages in the first phase of the deal, in exchange for 620 Palestinians arrested by Israeli forces in Gaza or imprisoned in Israel.
Israel earlier refused to release the prisoners after Hamas handed over six hostages in a staged ceremony that displayed the hostages and coffins containing the bones of the dead hostages to a crowd in Gaza before handing them over, a move that drew sharp criticism, including from the United Nations. The latest handover was not accompanied by such a ceremony.
The bodies are undergoing initial identification on Israeli soil, and official notification will be given to the hostages' families once the process is complete. A full forensic examination to determine the cause of death for the last four hostages released will be conducted, according to the Israeli health ministry.
About 30 hostages have been killed in Gaza, some by Hamas and some as a result of Israeli attacks.
Lini një Përgjigje