Hamas handed over the coffins of four hostages early Thursday, Israeli authorities confirmed, followed soon after by the return of hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners to the West Bank and Gaza.
Prime Minister’s office confirmed Israel had received the coffins of “four fallen hostages”, and a process to formally identify them had started.
In the West Bank and Gaza, AFP journalists saw hundreds of Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel arrive on buses accompanied by Red Cross vehicles.
More than 600 were due to be released in the latest exchange, while Al Jazeera reported nearly 100 would be deported to Egypt.
They were supposed to have been freed last weekend, but Israel stopped the process following outrage over elaborate ceremonies Hamas had been holding to hand over hostages seized in its shock October 7, 2023, attack.
