Hamas Hands Over Bodies, Israel Releases Palestinians as Ceasefire Phase Ends

Hamas has handed over the bodies of four hostages, and Israel has begun releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, marking the end of the first phase of the ceasefire between the two sides.

The handover was confirmed by an Israeli security official on Thursday, with the identities of the four bodies yet to be officially confirmed. Hamas, however, has identified them as Shlomo Mansour, Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, and Itzik Elgarat.

Meanwhile, a Red Cross convoy carrying dozens of released Palestinian detainees departed from Israel's Ofer prison, greeted by cheering families and friends in Beitunia. Israel had initially delayed the release of over 600 Palestinians, citing concerns over the treatment of hostages during their handover by Hamas. This delay was met with criticism from Hamas, who called it a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

The release of the bodies was carried out without ceremony, in contrast to previous Hamas releases. Israel, along with the Red Cross and UN officials, had previously described these ceremonies as humiliating for the hostages.

The exchange includes a number of women and teenagers detained since the militant group's attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, which sparked the conflict in Gaza. A Hamas source confirmed that the prisoners and detainees include 445 men, 24 women and minors arrested in Gaza, and 151 prisoners serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis.

This handover completes both sides' obligations under the first phase of the ceasefire, during which Hamas returned 33 hostages, including eight bodies, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

The ceasefire's six-week first phase expires this weekend. US president Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has expressed his desire for the sides to move into negotiations on the second phase, which would involve the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and negotiations for an end to the war.

Talks on the second phase were initially scheduled to begin in the first week of February.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Israelis lined highways as the bodies of a mother and her two young sons, killed in captivity in Gaza, were taken for burial on Wednesday. The bodies of Shiri Bibas and her sons, 9-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel, were handed over earlier this month.

Israel maintains that the children were killed by their captors in November 2023, while Hamas claims the family was killed along with their guards in an Israeli airstrike.

With people living in tent camps and damaged buildings in Gaza amidst chilly weather, health officials reported another infant death due to hypothermia, bringing the toll to seven in two weeks. Temperatures have been below 10C (50F) at night, with the past few days experiencing particularly cold conditions.