Hamas Transfers Remains of Four Israeli Hostages to Red Cross in Gaza
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Synopsis
On February 27, Hamas delivered the remains of four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza. This transfer comes just days before the initial phase of a ceasefire concludes, amidst escalating tensions over the treatment of hostages and ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Key Takeaways
- Hamas handed over four Israeli hostages' bodies to the Red Cross.
- The handover occurs near the end of the ceasefire's first phase.
- Israel delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners in protest.
- Discussions for a second ceasefire phase are contingent on prisoner release.
- The conflict has caused significant casualties and displacement in Gaza.
Gaza, Feb 27 (NationPress) Hamas has transferred the remains of four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza, as reported by an Israeli security official.
This handover occurs just days before the initial phase of the ceasefire concludes.
Israel postponed the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners starting Saturday, objecting to what it termed the inhumane treatment of hostages during their transfer by Hamas.
The militant organization labeled the postponement a serious breach of the ceasefire and indicated that discussions regarding a second phase cannot proceed until the freedom of the Palestinians is ensured.
Israel, along with the Red Cross and UN representatives, has criticized the previous ceremonies as demeaning for the hostages.
In the meantime, a Red Cross convoy transporting numerous freed Palestinian prisoners has been spotted departing from Israel's Ofer prison.
The expected release includes an unspecified number of women and teenagers who have been detained since Hamas' assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
This handover will fulfill the obligations of both parties under the initial phase of the ceasefire.
The family of Israeli Tsachi Idan has reported that they were informed of his death, and his remains were included among those returned.
Idan was taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, and his oldest daughter, Maayan, perished when militants fired through the door of their safe room.
Hamas militants broadcasted on Facebook while holding the family captive in their residence as two younger children pleaded for their release.
French President Emmanuel Macron shared a post on X concerning Israeli-French hostage Ohad Yahalomi, whose body is anticipated to be among those returned.
“In these moments of suffering and despair, the nation stands united with them,” he stated.
This recent transfer follows the earlier handover of Shiri Bibas and her two sons, nine-month-old Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, earlier this month.
The initial six-week phase of the ceasefire is set to expire this weekend.
US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed a desire for both sides to enter negotiations for the second phase, during which all remaining hostages held by Hamas would be released and discussions to end the conflict would commence.
Conversations regarding the second phase were anticipated to begin in the first week of February.
The ceasefire, facilitated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, concluded 15 months of warfare that began after Hamas' 2023 offensive on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and around 250 individuals taken hostage.
According to Palestinian health officials, Israel's military offensive has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths.
The conflict has displaced about 90 percent of Gaza's inhabitants and devastated the region's infrastructure and healthcare system.
The Al-Qassam Brigades delivered the remains to the ICRC team, which will then transfer them to the Israeli army via the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza Strip, according to a Hamas source.
