Israel has reportedly offered to release 602 Palestinian prisoners, originally set to be freed two days earlier, if Hamas immediately returns the bodies of four Israeli hostages, according to an Israeli official cited by Ynet.
The demand comes amid tensions over Hamas’s handling of hostage returns. Israel insists that Hamas return the bodies without staging public ceremonies, as it did with the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz. The current ceasefire deal hinges on Hamas releasing hostages—both living and deceased—in exchange for Israel freeing prisoners.
However, the agreement hit a snag when Israel refused to release the prisoners Sunday without guarantees of further hostage releases and an end to Hamas’s propaganda-driven handovers. The issue was exacerbated by public outrage over Hamas forcing hostages to witness ceremonies before being freed.
Hamas, in turn, has refused to release the bodies unless Israel first fulfills its prisoner release commitments. Negotiations are ongoing, with conflicting reports on progress. Meanwhile, Israel remains firm on its war objectives, including the dismantling of Hamas as a military and governing power.
Three possible scenarios are being discussed: negotiating a second phase of the ceasefire, resuming military action, or continuing the current phased releases as long as living hostages are freed. Israel is prioritizing the release of four fathers and other hostages believed to be in critical condition.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit the region Wednesday to push for an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire. His trip includes stops in Qatar, Egypt, Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Currently, Gaza terror groups hold 63 hostages, including 36 confirmed dead. With the first phase of the ceasefire set to expire soon, diplomatic efforts are intensifying to prevent a collapse of negotiations.
