Hamas to release Israeli captives, bodies on Thursday, Saturday

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
18 Feb 2025 18:04
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Palestinian media report that 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be freed on Saturday as part of the prisoner exchange deal.

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The head of the Hamas movement in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, gives a speech on February 18, 2025 (Screengrab)

The Palestinian Resistance will hand over the bodies of four Israeli captives next Thursday, including the remains of the Bibas family, the head of the Hamas movement in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, announced on Tuesday.

In return, the Israeli occupation is set to release several Palestinian detainees and prisoners on Saturday, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.

In a speech, al-Hayya stated that the handover of the remaining Israeli captives’ bodies, as agreed upon in the first phase of the deal, will be completed in the sixth week since the agreement came into effect on January 19, 2025.

He also announced that the Resistance will release the remaining six living Israeli captives included in the first phase of the deal next Saturday. Among them are Hisham al-Sayyed and Avera Mengistu, who have been in captivity since 2014. The Israeli occupation, in turn, will also release a number of Palestinian detainees under the agreement.

Palestinian media reported that 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be freed on Saturday as part of the prisoner exchange deal. Among them are 157 prisoners serving life sentences and 445 detainees from Gaza.

Al-Hayya emphasized that these steps reflect Hamas’ commitment to implementing the agreement as stipulated and in response to the mediators' efforts. He reaffirmed that the Palestinian group continues to engage with mediators, particularly Qatar and Egypt, to compel the occupation to adhere to the terms of the first phase.

Regarding the second phase of the agreement, al-Hayya pointed out that the Israeli occupation has been stalling its engagement in negotiations, despite their scheduled launch on the 16th day after the agreement was signed.

He called for the enforcement of all agreement terms without delay, expressing Hamas' readiness for the immediate implementation of the second phase, which includes a full ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the occupation’s security and political cabinet is set to convene to discuss the second phase of the prisoner exchange deal.

According to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli negotiating team currently in Cairo is focused on the continued implementation of the first phase. The statement added that following the Cabinet discussion in the evening, the team will receive directives on how to proceed with negotiations regarding the second phase.

Agreement reached on procedures facilitating entry of heavy equipment, caravans, construction materials: Source

Similarly, a senior Palestinian official told Al Mayadeen on Tuesday that the remaining Israeli captives included in the first phase of the prisoner exchange will be handed over on Saturday, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian Resistance and "Israel".

The official stated that six living Israeli captives would be released, along with the bodies of four others, in exchange for the release of an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

He clarified that this arrangement was reached following consultations with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, as well as with the leadership of the Hamas movement.

The Palestinian official also confirmed that an agreement has been reached on the procedures to facilitate the entry of heavy equipment, caravans, and construction materials, which Israeli authorities have been delaying since the ceasefire agreement came into effect in January.

On Monday, a senior official in the Palestinian Resistance told Al Mayadeen that Hamas was awaiting the implementation of all provisions of the agreement, including what was confirmed last week—such as the entry of equipment and caravans and the cessation of field violations—before proceeding with the second phase of the deal.

The official said an Israeli delegation was set to arrive in Cairo to discuss completing the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

The Israeli side is ready to discuss the second phase without giving any details about its terms, the official told Al Mayadeen, asserting that the meetings in Cairo will see the participation of all relevant parties concerned with the situation in Gaza.

The ceasefire agreement in Gaza came into effect on January 19, following 15 months of devastating Israeli aggression that began on October 7, 2023. Approximately 70 Israeli captives remain in the enclave out of the 251 who were captured during the Palestinian Resistance's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.