Israel is preparing to receive the bodies of four hostages from Gaza on Thursday, according to a security official. The hostages were taken during a Hamas-led cross-border attack in October 2023, which killed over 1,200 people in southern Israel.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, has been largely successful despite some temporary setbacks. However, tensions remain high as the US President Donald Trump’s comments on the situation have sparked concerns about the deal’s stability.
Israel plans to use “any leverage” it has over Hamas to secure the return of all 33 hostages due for release in the first phase of the agreement. The deal includes the exchange of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees for Israeli captives, as well as Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
The hostage returns are a crucial step towards ending the war between Israel and Hamas, but negotiations on the second phase of the agreement have yet to begin. A high-level delegation is expected to travel to Qatar soon to discuss the terms of release.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-preparing-receive-bodies-four-hostages-thursday-security-official-says-2025-02-17