Hamas hands over bodies of four hostages to Israel

On Wednesday evening, Hamas transferred the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including Danish-Israeli Itzik Elgarat, to the Red Cross, according to an Israeli security source. Elgarat was presumed dead by Hamas since March 9th last year. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the receipt of the bodies. Forensic examinations have started to verify the identities. In exchange, Israel will release 625 Palestinian prisoners, with buses arriving in Gaza and Egypt overnight. The Jewish Community of Denmark released a statement mourning Elgarat’s death, condemning the kidnapping of civilians. The exchange is part of a ceasefire agreement’s first phase that came into effect on January 19th, and the handover was not done publicly, unlike previous exchanges that held ceremonies in Gaza.