The bodies of four hostages kidnapped by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7 were returned to Israel early Thursday after over 16 months in captivity. The nighttime transfer, mediated by Egypt, took place at the Kerem Shalom Crossing.
In exchange, Israel agreed to release more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, including individuals convicted of deadly attacks. The exact number remains unclear, with estimates ranging between 602 and 620 detainees.
The remains include Shlomo Mantzur, 85, Itzik Elgarat, 69, Tsahi Idan, 49, and Ohad Yahalomi, 49. While Mantzur’s death had been previously confirmed, the deaths of Elgarat, Idan, and Yahalomi were not publicly announced until now. Israeli authorities are conducting forensic examinations before finalizing identifications.
Tensions surrounded the exchange, as Israel insisted on verifying the hostages’ remains before releasing prisoners. This follows an incident last week when Hamas mistakenly handed over the body of a Gazan woman instead of an Israeli hostage.
The process marks the final stage of the initial ceasefire agreement, though uncertainty lingers over future negotiations.
