Israel has reportedly informed mediating countries that it is willing to release 602 Palestinian security prisoners, initially set for release two days prior, if Hamas immediately returns the bodies of four hostages. However, Israel has demanded that Hamas return the bodies without a public ceremony, similar to the one held for the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz last week.
This development comes amid stalled negotiations within the ongoing ceasefire agreement, under which Hamas releases hostages in exchange for Israel freeing Palestinian prisoners. The process faced complications after Israel refused to proceed with the prisoner release without assurances of further hostage releases and an end to Hamas’s public propaganda displays during exchanges.
Tensions escalated after Hamas stated it would only return the hostages’ bodies if Israel first freed the prisoners. While there were reports of potential progress, Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi denied any breakthroughs, and Israeli sources also dismissed claims of imminent agreements.
The broader ceasefire agreement, which began in January, temporarily halted fighting that had persisted for over 15 months following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The truce includes a phased release of hostages and prisoners while negotiations continue toward a “sustainable calm” and potential Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
An Israeli official outlined three possible scenarios:
- A second-phase negotiation requiring Hamas to release all hostages, disarm, and accept Gaza’s demilitarization.
- Continued military efforts by Israel to achieve these goals if Hamas refuses negotiations.
- An extension of the first-phase framework, where the ceasefire continues as long as hostages are released in batches.
As the ceasefire’s first phase nears its deadline, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit the region to push for an extension. His trip will include stops in Qatar, Egypt, Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Hamas is currently holding 63 hostages, including at least 36 confirmed dead, while it has so far released 30 hostages during the January ceasefire. The group previously released 105 civilians in a weeklong truce in November 2023. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have rescued eight hostages and recovered 41 bodies, including some mistakenly killed by Israeli forces while attempting to escape captivity.
Negotiations remain ongoing as both sides assess the next steps in the complex truce process.
Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-offer-to-free-prisoners-if-hamas-returns-4-bodies-monday-without-ceremony/