Hamas returns bodies of four hostages, Israel releases 600 Palestinian prisoners

Hamas has returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners, marking the final exchange under the current Gaza truce.

The ceasefire, in place since January 19, is set to expire this week, with uncertainty over whether a second phase—aimed at ending the war—will proceed, Caliber.Az reports via Al-Jazeera.

Hamas has said it is open to talks but insists remaining hostages will only be freed if the ceasefire continues.

After days of deadlock, Egyptian mediators secured the handover of the four bodies on Wednesday night (February 26). In return, 620 Palestinian detainees—held either in Gaza by Israeli forces or in Israeli prisons—were to be freed.

The exchange followed controversy over Hamas’s previous public displays of hostages and coffins, which drew international criticism. This time, no such ceremony took place. The Israeli government confirmed receiving the remains of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi, and Shlomo Mantzur, all taken from their kibbutz homes in the October 7 attack.

Footage showed buses carrying released Palestinian prisoners arriving in Ramallah to cheering crowds. Among them was Bilal Yassin, 42, who spent 20 years in Israeli detention. "Our sacrifices were not in vain," he told Reuters.

Nearly 100 prisoners were sent to Egypt, where they will remain until another country accepts them. In Gaza, ambulances transported freed detainees to hospital for medical checks.

In total, 580 Palestinian prisoners will be freed in Gaza, with Red Cross-escorted buses expected in the coming hours.

The ceasefire’s first phase saw 33 Israeli hostages exchanged for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, along with partial Israeli troop withdrawals and increased aid access.

However, with the 42-day truce set to end on March 1, it remains unclear whether an extension will be agreed, potentially securing the release of more of the 59 remaining hostages, or if negotiations for a long-term resolution can begin.

By Aghakazim Guliyev