Israel Will Not Hand Over the Body of Sinwar to Hamas in Exchange for Hostages

An informed source emphasized on Monday, January 13, that Israel will not agree to hand over the body of Yahya Sinwar to Hamas as part of a hostage release agreement with this Palestinian group. According to the Jerusalem Post, this source, close to the Israeli government, dismissed speculations from some Arab media on this matter and stated that Israel currently does not intend to deliver the body of the slain Hamas leader to this group supported by the Islamic Republic. Arabic-language media outlets Al Arabiya and Al Hadath reported on Monday evening that as a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip approaches, Hamas has requested the delivery of Yahya Sinwar's body as part of the first phase of the hostage exchange. Reuters reported on Monday, January 13, citing an informed official, that Israeli and Hamas negotiators received the final draft of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza with the presence of Brett McGurk, representative of President Joe Biden, and Steve Witkoff, representative of President-elect Donald Trump. Biden confirmed on Monday evening during remarks at the U.S. State Department that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the release of hostages is imminent, stating, 'We are on the verge of achieving a proposal that I put forward months ago. The efforts have finally borne fruit.' Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Islamist group Hamas, referred to as the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, against Israel, was killed on October 17, 2024, in an operation by Israeli forces in Rafah, southern Gaza. Israeli officials announced after Sinwar's death that they are keeping his body in a secret location in Israel. Hamas forces killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and took about 250 hostages, of which fewer than 100 are still held by this group, and it is unclear how many of them are alive. Reuters: The final draft of the ceasefire agreement has been presented to Israel and Hamas. Biden emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire and the release of hostages in a conversation with Netanyahu. Trump advisor: Negotiations for the release of Hamas hostages are ongoing. The ceasefire agreement is closer than ever; the Israeli delegation has headed to Doha. Donald Trump has called for an agreement on the hostage deal by February 20.