Overview

• The bodies of four Israeli hostages, including Franco-Israeli Ohad Yahalomi, were returned by Hamas as part of a negotiated exchange under the current truce.
• Israel released approximately 600 Palestinian prisoners in return for the remains of the captives, who were taken during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
• The deceased individuals were identified as Ohad Yahalomi, Itzik Elgarat, Shlomo Mansour, and Tsachi Idan, all of whom were killed while in captivity in Gaza.
• This exchange marks the conclusion of the first phase of a truce mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, with uncertainty surrounding the next phase of negotiations.
• The truce has so far resulted in the return of 33 Israeli hostages, including eight who were deceased, and the release of 1,700 Palestinian prisoners.