Hamas has handed over what it says are the bodies of four Israeli hostages from Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel is testing DNA samples to confirm they are the remains of Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69, all of whom were taken by Hamas in the 7 October 2023 attacks.
Early on Thursday, Israel began releasing more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, with dozens returned to the occupied West Bank and Gaza, where they were met by jubilant crowds.
It will be the final exchange of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which is due to end on Saturday.
Initial testing of the four bodies’ DNA was expected to happen close to the Israel-Gaza border.
Hamas transferred the latest bodies privately, with no public ceremony, unlike in previous exchanges.
Israel has accused Hamas of orchestrating “humiliating” handover ceremonies, and delayed last weekend’s prisoner release because of what it said was the cruel treatment of hostages at the handovers.
Hamas official said that the return of the four bodies would take place “without public presence to prevent the occupation from finding any pretext for delay or obstruction”.
A bus carrying Palestinian prisoners later arrived at a checkpoint at the Ramallah Cultural Palace, where a large crowd has gathered to celebrate their release.
Later, dozens of Palestinian prisoners were seen getting off buses outside a hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza.
Those expected to be released include more than 400 Gazans detained by Israeli forces during the war and 50 prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails.
Israel said earlier that prisoners would also be released from Ketziot prison in southern Israel, as well as from Ofer.
The Hamas-run Prisoners’ Media Office said a hospital in Gaza was preparing to receive the released Palestinians.
