Palestinian Resistance to release 4 Israeli bodies on Wednesday night
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The 4 deceased Israelis will be handed simultaneously with the release of between 400-600 Palestinian prisoners, under a new mechanism that guarantees 'Israel's' adherence to the ceasefire deal.
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Israeli captives, from left to right, Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem, and Omer Wenkert, show Hamas issued certificates as instructed by militants, before being handed over to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 (AP)
The Palestinian Resistance will hand over the bodies of 4 Israeli captives: Itzachi Idan, Wojciech Aljarit, Ohad Yahlomi, and Shlomo Mansour, on Wednesday night, while Israeli media reported that the exchange will take place at 11:00 PM.
The Palestinian Hostage Media Office noted that "the release of between 590 to 594 prisoners from the Gaza Strip is expected, with preparations underway to receive them," while adding that the European Hospital in Khan Yunis is preparing to receive the freed Palestinian hostages, meanwhile the Palestinian Hostage Society said that 445 Palestinian hostages will be released.
This follows an announcement by Hamas spokesperson Abdul-Latif al-Qanou' that "the captive exchange will take place simultaneously with the handover of the Israeli bodies, in a new mechanism that would guarantee the occupation's adherence."
Al-Qanou' added that Egyptian mediators "guaranteed the exchange", while noting that no "proposal regarding the second phase has been presented to the movement, despite its readiness for it and its keenness to move forward with it to complete all phases of the agreement."
Netanyahu violates ceasefire, obstructs second phase
The Israeli government delayed the release of Palestinian detainees who were scheduled to be freed on Saturday as part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, citing the "celebratory events" arranged by the Palestinian resistance before handing over the Israeli captives to the Red Cross.
"In light of the repeated violations by Hamas — including the ceremonies that demean our hostages and the cynical use of our hostages for propaganda purposes — it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists planned for yesterday until the next release of hostages is guaranteed, and without the degrading ceremonies," Netanyahu stated.
Hamas accused Netanyahu of delaying negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire deal following the exchange of four deceased Israeli captives on Thursday, after "Israel" set unreasonable conditions for the second phase.
"Israel" requested that the Gaza Strip be emptied of weapons, the exclusion of Hamas from governing Gaza, and the release of all Palestinians in one go, while Netanyahu tried to extend the first phase of the ceasefire deal.
The Israeli Hostage Families Forum accused their Prime Minister of obstructing the exchange deal to appease his coalition partners at the expense of the captives' lives, saying that It is inconceivable that former US President Donald Trump and his envoy, Steve Witkoff, are more committed to bringing back the hostages than Netanyahu.”
The Forum highlighted that 63 captives remains in Gaza after 505 days, telling Netanyahu that they "know some are urging you to destroy Hamas’ rule, but this would inevitably lead to the execution of the hostages.”
