Israel to receive bodies of four Gaza hostages

Israel is set to recover bodies of four hostages from Gaza on Thursday and aims to free six living hostages on Saturday, as per an undisclosed Israeli security source reported by Reuters. The Jerusalem Post adds that upon their return, the four deceased hostages’ identities will be declared and examinations will take place at Israel’s Abu Kabir forensic institute. Additionally, Israel pledges to release all Palestinian female prisoners, including youths arrested post October 7. By next Thursday, another four bodies will be transferred. These exchanges are part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, involving the release of 33 hostages and about 1900 prisoners from Israeli custody. Only four hostages might remain in Gaza after these operations, presumed dead. Hamas had taken 251 hostages during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, leading to protests across Israel for the release of the remaining captives.