Hamas returns bodies of four Israeli hostages

Hamas has returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages, abducted on October 7, to the Red Cross. This handover follows a ceasefire agreement, which also includes the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The exchange was conducted privately, avoiding public displays that had previously drawn criticism. Israel had delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners due to concerns over the treatment of hostages during earlier handovers. The deal fulfills both sides' commitments under the ceasefire's first phase, which involved Hamas returning 33 hostages and bodies in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.