Israel is set to receive the bodies of four hostages from Hamas on Thursday as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal, an Israeli official confirmed. The agreement states that remains will be returned on the 33rd day of the truce.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have begun preparations, with the bodies to be transported to the Abu Kabir forensic institute. Families will be informed only after official identification. The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet confirmed the details publicly.
While published versions of the ceasefire deal suggested that only living hostages would be released in phase one, this arrangement appears to be part of undisclosed terms.
According to a newly revealed annex, the release schedule includes:
- Thursday, February 20: Israel receives four hostages’ bodies.
- Saturday, February 22: Hamas releases three living hostages.
- Thursday, February 27: Hamas returns four more bodies.
- By March 2: The final three living hostages, including Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu, held in Gaza for over a decade, will be freed.
In exchange for the eight bodies, Israel will release women and children detained in Gaza since October 7, whom reports say were not involved in Hamas’s attack or fighting.
Israeli officials are working to expedite the release of the six remaining living hostages, aiming to secure their freedom by this week or Saturday.
