In accordance with Israel's demands, an agreement has been reached with mediators: four deceased Israeli hostages will be returned Wednesday night as part of continued implementation of Phase 1 of the hostage deal, the Prime Minister's Office said on Wednesday, days after Israel halted the release of Palestinians prisoners as part of the deal because of Hamas' parading of hostages and coffins of dead captives. The statement confirmed that Hamas agreed to avoid such ceremonies.
Al-Jazeera reported Wednesday that the release of prisoners in parallel with the transfer of the deceased hostages' remains will begin at midnight Mecca time, approximately 11:00 p.m. Israel time. Hamas has confirmed the transfer of four deceased hostages. Israel will then have to release the Palestinian prisoners it had vowed to release in the previous exchange, but this will be carried out only after the deceased hostages are positively identified at the Institute of Forensic Medicine.
Earlier Wednesday, Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanoa stated that the prisoner release would occur simultaneously with the transfer of the deceased hostages' remains. He added that the procedure would be implemented through a "new mechanism" designed to ensure Israel fulfills its commitments to the agreement.
According to al-Qanoa, Egyptian mediators have provided these assurances and are committed to holding Israel accountable for completing the agreement. He also noted that Hamas has not yet received any proposals regarding the second stage of the hostage deal.
