Hamas returns bodies; Israel releases Palestinian prisoners

Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages as part of a deal while awaiting the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. This exchange marks the end of the first phase of a fragile truce in Gaza. Israel received the bodies of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, and Shlomo Mantzur, who were abducted during the October 7 attack. The handover occurred without a public ceremony, unlike previous exchanges. In return, Israel is releasing 620 Palestinian prisoners, including men, women, and minors. The first phase of the ceasefire involved the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for around 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The truce is set to expire on March 1.