Hamas Delivers Bodies of Four Israeli Hostages to Red Cross; Release of Hundreds of Palestinian Prisoners

The extremist group Hamas delivered the bodies of four Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners just days before the end of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. An Israeli security official confirmed on Thursday, March 9, that Hamas had handed over the bodies to the Red Cross. Israel also announced that the coffins of the four hostages crossed the border with the help of Egypt, which played a mediating role in the negotiations, and the identification process began immediately. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated on Thursday that the bodies of the four deceased hostages have been identified: Shlomo Mansour, 86, who was killed on the day of the Hamas attack, and Tsahi Aidan, Ohad Yahlomi, and Itzik Elgarat, who were killed while in Hamas's custody after being abducted alive. Families of the three victims stated that the army informed them based on autopsy evidence that they were killed shortly after being captured by Hamas. Yamit Elgarat, the niece of Itzik Elgarat, said these individuals could have returned alive to their families, but the 'Israeli leadership' forgot about these citizens for 'political purposes.' The Elgarat family called on the people of Israel to intensify protests to pressure the Netanyahu government to work towards the return of 59 other hostages. Tens of thousands of Israelis who participated in the funeral of Shiri Bibas, a young mother killed by Hamas along with her two children, and the father of the Bibas family, who was freed from Hamas three weeks ago, stated at the funeral that the remaining hostages must be returned to their families. Meanwhile, a convoy of Red Cross buses carrying dozens of released Palestinian prisoners left the Afula prison in Israel almost simultaneously. Reports indicate that a crowd of families, friends, and supporters of the Palestinian prisoners gathered in the city of Beitunia to welcome their bus convoy. Israel postponed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners starting Saturday in protest against what it called the humiliating treatment of hostages by Hamas during their release. However, the militant group deemed the delay in the release of prisoners a 'serious violation' of the ceasefire agreement and stated that negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire would be impossible until Palestinian prisoners are released. Israel and Hamas agreed to continue the exchange of hostages and prisoners. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized on Wednesday that Hamas must hand over the hostages' bodies without any ceremony. The Red Cross also deemed the ceremony held by Hamas in front of the crowd during the release of hostages as humiliating. Among the prisoners leaving Israel on Thursday are hundreds who were detained solely on suspicion of militancy without any charges following the October 7 attack by Hamas. This group includes 445 men, 21 teenagers, and one woman. About 50 Palestinians will be transferred to the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem after their release. However, dozens who have been sentenced to death or life imprisonment for deadly attacks against Israelis will be expelled from Palestinian territories and temporarily taken to Egypt until other countries accept them. With the delivery of this number of hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners, both sides have fulfilled all their commitments in this phase of the ceasefire. During this phase, Hamas delivered 33 hostages, including eight bodies, in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners to Israel. The current ceasefire, which was implemented with the efforts and mediation of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, ended 15 months of continuous and deadly conflict that began with Hamas's sudden attack on southern Israel in mid-October 2023. In these conflicts, nearly 1,500 Israelis and over 48,000 Palestinians were killed. During its attack on Israel, Hamas also took about 251 people hostage. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, expressed his condolences on social media to the family of Ohad Yahlomi, who was also a French citizen, stating, 'Hamas's brutal actions must cease.' Mr. Macron reminded that since the beginning of Hamas's attack on Israel, 50 residents of Israel who were also French citizens have been killed. Israeli media reported on Thursday that a senior Israeli official stated that the country would not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in Gaza. According to the leader of the Israeli opposition, this 'senior official' who is providing these statements to the media is Netanyahu himself. According to the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Israel must withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor 42 days after the ceasefire begins. This date coincides with Saturday, March 11. However, according to Haaretz, a 'senior official' stated on March 9 that 'Israel can no longer allow Hamas terrorists to bring vehicles and weapons through Philadelphi and roam our borders.'