Israel has confirmed that Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages as part of the latest exchange under the Gaza ceasefire deal. Forensic tests completed on Thursday morning verified the identities of the deceased as Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69. Their remains were transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross on Wednesday night without a public ceremony.
The return of the bodies cleared the way for the delayed release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli custody. This marked the final exchange in the first phase of the six-week ceasefire agreement, with uncertainty looming over future negotiations.
While Hamas has expressed readiness to engage in delayed talks for the second phase of the ceasefire, aimed at ending the conflict and securing the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, Israel’s leadership remains divided. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from political allies to resume military operations against Hamas while simultaneously pushing for an extension of the truce.
The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. Approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 were taken hostage. In response, Israel initiated a large-scale military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 48,348 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified, with the United Nations reporting that approximately 70% of buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Gaza’s healthcare system, along with essential infrastructure for water, sanitation, and food supply, remains in a state of collapse.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which advocates for the return of Israeli captives, confirmed the identities of the four deceased men with “profound sorrow.” The forum emphasized the urgency of securing the release of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas, stating, “The hostages have no time left – they must return home to be reunited with their families or brought to a dignified burial.”
Among the deceased, Tsachi Idan was abducted from Nahal Oz, a kibbutz near the Gaza border, on October 7. His eldest child, Maayan, 18, was killed during the attack. Itzik Elgarat was taken from Nir Oz, reportedly shot in the hand before being transported to Gaza. Ohad Yahalomi was also seized from Nir Oz, while his 12-year-old son, Eitan, was released during a separate ceasefire in November. Shlomo Mansour, born in Iraq, was killed at Kibbutz Kissufim before his body was taken to Gaza.
The Israeli military conducted initial forensic testing near the Israel-Gaza border, followed by further examinations at a forensics laboratory in Tel Aviv. This process was expedited following a previous mishap where Hamas mistakenly handed over the body of a Palestinian woman instead of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas.
The handover of the hostages’ bodies had previously stalled the release of Palestinian prisoners, as Israel accused Hamas of treating the hostages inhumanely during prior exchanges. Following negotiations led by Egyptian mediators, Israel agreed to resume the exchange under the condition that no public ceremonies would accompany the return of Israeli remains.
After the handover, buses carrying Palestinian prisoners departed from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank, arriving at the Ramallah Cultural Palace where crowds gathered to welcome them. In Gaza, dozens of released detainees reached a hospital in Khan Younis, including many held without formal charges during the conflict. Additionally, prisoners convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis have been exiled abroad.
The future of the ceasefire and the proposed second phase of negotiations remains uncertain. Talks aimed at securing the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for more Palestinian detainees were scheduled to begin earlier this month but have yet to commence.
Both sides continue to exchange blame for the delays, while families of the hostages and detainees wait in anguish, hoping for a resolution to one of the most devastating conflicts in recent Middle Eastern history.
