Gaza [Palestine], February 28: Israel has completed forensic tests confirming the identities of four dead Israeli hostages whose bodies were handed over by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
On Wednesday night, Hamas passed four coffins to the Red Cross from Gaza. Israel's prime minister confirmed on Thursday that they contained the remains of Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69.
The handover cleared the way for the delayed release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It was the last exchange of the six-week-long first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, leaving questions over what happens next. Hamas has said it is ready to start delayed indirect negotiations on the second phase, which aims to end the war and secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed negotiators to depart for Cairo on Thursday for talks.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy the Palestinian armed group in response to its unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
At least 48,365 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Most of Gaza's population of 2.1 million has been displaced multiple times. Almost 70% of buildings are estimated to be damaged or destroyed. The healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have collapsed, and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter.
Following the handover of the hostages' bodies, buses carrying Palestinian prisoners were seen leaving Ofer prison in the north of the occupied West Bank and then arriving in Ramallah, where a large crowd gathered to celebrate their release. "We have been taken out of suffering as if we have been dug out from our own graves. No prisoner has had the experience of having their own release delayed twice," one of the prisoners, Yahya Shrida, told reporters.
"What we have been through is a situation that the mountains can't carry. It is very hard to explain." (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune
