Israel confirms Hamas handed over hostages' bodies as Palestinian prisoners released

It was the last exchange of the Gaza ceasefire deal's first phase, leaving questions over what happens next.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersIsrael confirms Hamas handed over hostages' bodies as Palestinian prisoners released2 hours agoShareSaveDavid Gritten & George WrightBBC NewsShareSaveWatch: Released Palestinian prisoners reunite with families in the West BankIsrael has completed forensic tests confirming the identities of four dead Israeli hostages whose bodies were handed over by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

On Wednesday night, Hamas passed four coffins to the Red Cross from Gaza. Israel's prime minister confirmed on Thursday that they contained the remains of Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69, and said all four men had been murdered.

The handover cleared the way for the delayed release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

It was the last exchange of the six-week-long first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, leaving questions over what happens next.

Hamas has said it is ready to start delayed talks on the second phase, which aims to end the war and secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gdx1rpel6o

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