Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on Thursday, shortly after saying Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over coffins believed to contain the bodies of four hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel had received the coffins of “four fallen hostages,” and a process to formally identify them had started. A kibbutz later confirmed two-day Read More
On February 27, 2025, Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners following Hamas's return of four Israeli hostages' bodies. The process began after Hamas handed over the coffins, with identification underway. Releases occurred in Gaza and the West Bank, involving Red Cross vehicles. Israel halted further releases due to Hamas's elaborate ceremonies during the initial hostage handover. Hamas emphasized the need for negotiations on the next phase. Emotional reunions marked the West Bank releases. The four identified bodies were Itzik Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, and Shlomo Mansour. This followed a ceasefire and previous hostage exchanges, amid ongoing tensions including airstrikes and US-mediated talks. The October 7, 2023, attack resulted in significant casualties, with Hamas's actions causing widespread grief in Israel.