Overview
- Hamas has confirmed it will return the bodies of four Israeli hostages, concluding the first phase of the ceasefire deal brokered on January 19, 2025.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated the bodies will be handed over without public ceremonies, following criticism of previous displays by Hamas.
- The exchange includes the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners by Israel, as part of the negotiated agreement.
- The Bibas family, whose tragic story became emblematic of the October 7, 2023, attacks, was laid to rest in a widely attended funeral earlier this week.
- Discussions for a potential second phase of the ceasefire agreement have not yet commenced, as both sides navigate the aftermath of the 16-month conflict.