Hamas to transfer remains of another Israeli hostage tonight under Gaza ceasefire deal

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Palestinian group Hamas said Friday that it will hand over the body of another Israeli hostage tonight under a Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said it – along with Palestinian group Islamic Jihad – will transfer the remains at 9 pm local time (1900GMT) after it was found under the rubble in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

Hamas has already released 20 Israeli captives alive and handed over the remains of 23 out of 28, most of them Israelis, since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10. Israel, however, claimed that one of the received bodies did not match any of its listed captives.

Israel has tied the start of negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire to the handover of all the hostage remains. Hamas says the process requires time due to the massive destruction in Gaza.

Phase one of the ceasefire deal includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisages the rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas.

Israel has killed close to 69,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 170,600 others in attacks in Gaza since October 2023.