Israel and Hamas have reached a prisoner swap deal to exchange deceased hostages for Palestinian detainees, temporarily salvaging a fragile ceasefire set to expire this weekend. The agreement follows days of stalled negotiations after Israel accused Hamas of mistreating captives during public handover ceremonies.
Under the terms finalized Tuesday, four Israeli hostages’ bodies will be returned alongside the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas confirmed the breakthrough after talks in Cairo with Egyptian mediators.
The prisoners will be released simultaneously with the bodies,stated Hamas officials, emphasizing compliance with Phase 1 obligations.
The deal narrowly prevents renewed violence in Gaza, where over 48,000 Palestinians have died since Israel’s military response to Hamas’ October 2023 attack. Key elements include:
- Completion of Phase 1 ceasefire terms (33 hostages exchanged for ~2,000 prisoners)
- No public ceremonies during body transfers to avoid humiliatingdisplays
- Potential resumption of Phase 2 talks on ending the war
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit the region soon to push for broader negotiations. However, tensions persist over Hamas’ demand for a permanent truce and Israel’s refusal to halt military operations until all hostages are freed.
Humanitarian crises loom large: 90% of Gaza’s population remains displaced, with hospitals and infrastructure decimated. While casualty figures remain disputed, Palestinian health authorities report women and children comprise most fatalities.
