Israel has agreed to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages, according to Egyptian state-linked media. The deal, brokered under Egyptian supervision, comes as negotiations for a second phase of a Gaza ceasefire remain on track, with Israeli representatives heading to talks in Doha or Cairo.
Hamas confirmed the agreement late Tuesday, following delays over the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners. The militant group has expressed readiness to free all remaining hostages “in one go” during the next phase of negotiations.
The ceasefire, in place since January 19, has seen Hamas release 25 Israeli hostages, while Israel has freed over 1,100 Palestinian prisoners. The International Committee of the Red Cross has urged both sides to conduct swaps “in a dignified and private manner.”
Despite mutual accusations of ceasefire violations, the truce has held. However, Israel’s military operations continue in Gaza and the West Bank, with recent airstrikes targeting military sites in southern Syria.
The conflict, ignited by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, has resulted in over 1,200 Israeli and more than 48,000 Palestinian deaths. The war displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, escalating tensions and drawing international calls for restraint.
