Hamas to return bodies for release of Palestinian prisoners

Hamas will return the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday in exchange for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. This comes after Israel delayed the prisoner release due to concerns over the treatment of hostages by Hamas. The agreement aims to fulfill both sides' obligations under the current cease-fire, which is set to expire this weekend. The deal includes the return of 33 hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The cease-fire, brokered by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, ended 15 months of conflict following Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023. The situation remains fragile as negotiations for a second phase have not yet begun.