Hamas has called on Israel to resume negotiations regarding the second phase of the truce in Gaza, following the latest exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, as outlined in the initial agreement.
On Thursday morning, Hamas returned the bodies of four hostages to Israel, resulting in the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
The Hostage Families Forum confirmed the identities of the four deceased individuals. They include Ohad Yahalomi, a 49-year-old Franco-Israeli; Tsachi Idan, also 49; Itzik Elgarat, a 68-year-old Danish-Israeli; and Shlomo Mansour, aged 85. The first three were reported to have been “killed in captivity,” while the fourth victim died during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office. All were abducted on the same day from a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip.
In exchange, Israel released 596 Palestinians, with 46 still remaining in custody, consisting entirely of women and minors detained after October 7, according to a statement from a Palestinian NGO.
The released prisoners were welcomed by crowds in Ramallah, West Bank, and Khan Yunis, Gaza.
Negotiations Essential
This marks the last planned exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners as part of the truce agreement mediated by various regional and international actors, which came into effect on January 19.
The initial phase of this ceasefire is set to end on Saturday, and terms for the subsequent stage have yet to be negotiated, aimed at concluding the war and securing the release of about 60 hostages still held in Gaza.
In this initial six-week period, a total of 25 hostages and eight bodies were returned to Israel, while Israel released 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
“We must initiate negotiations for the second phase,” stated Hamas in a press release, emphasizing that Israel should not offer “false excuses” to halt the process.
The Israeli Prime Minister has directed negotiators to travel to Cairo for discussions regarding the truce.
Additionally, the Israeli President highlighted the “moral obligation” of the authorities to do everything possible to bring all hostages back, whether alive or deceased. “We will continue working tirelessly until we bring everyone back,” pledged the Prime Minister.
Contentious Circumstances
On Saturday, the Israeli government halted the release of the 600 Palestinian prisoners, in protest against the “humiliating ceremonies” arranged by Hamas during each hostage exchange, which have drawn criticism from various organizations.
The delivery of four bodies last week, including those of young boys, sparked outrage in Israel, as their coffins were displayed in a provocative manner.
One of the families affected has become a symbol of the hostage crisis, with the father, recently released, paying tribute to his “perfect family” during the funeral.
Fragile Agreement
After nearly 15 months of conflict in Gaza, following an attack by militant groups on October 7, 2023, Israel and Hamas have reached a fragile ceasefire agreement that includes three phases.
The agreement has faced potential collapse due to mutual accusations of violations. The Israeli military recently stated it launched airstrikes on rocket launch sites in Gaza following detected fire.
Recent discussions regarding the conditions for the second phase of the negotiations have reportedly made “significant progress,” according to the U.S. envoy for the Middle East.
The third and final phase of the truce is expected to focus on the reconstruction of Gaza, which has been significantly affected by the ongoing conflict. Israel aims to dismantle Hamas in response to the attacks that resulted in over 1,200 casualties, predominantly civilians, as reported by official sources.
The militant group has also abducted 251 individuals, with the Israeli military declaring that 35 have been killed among those still held. The ongoing response in Gaza has led to more than 48,000 fatalities, according to health officials, a figure viewed as credible by international organizations.
