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Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages early on Thursday in return for the release by Israel of more than 600 Palestinian detainees, in a final swap as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Buses carried the Palestinians from Israel's Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank to the Palestinian city of Ramallah, where they were welcomed by jubilant crowds.
In Gaza, about 12 buses carrying hundreds of detainees arrived early in the morning after being released from Israeli prisons. About 97 of the detainees were handed over to Egypt after being exiled from the Palestinian territories. Among them was Nael Barghouti, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli jails.
Mr Barghouti was first arrested in 1978 for involvement in attacks against the Israeli military. He was among more than 1,000 detainees freed in 2011 in exchange for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, but was rearrested in 2014 and sentenced to a life term over terror charges. He has spent a total of 44 years in prison.
The Israeli army said it had received coffins containing the bodies of the four hostages, said to be Itzik Elgarat, Tsachi Idan, Shlomo Mansour and Ohad Yahalomi. The four men were abducted from their kibbutz homes near Gaza during the October 7, 2023 attack.
Forensic tests confirmed the remains handed over were of Mr Elgarat, Mr Idan, Mr Mansour and Mr Yahalomi, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. Mr Elgarat, Mr Idan and Mr Yahalomi were murdered while in captivity in Gaza, while Mr Mansour was killed during the October 7 attack, it said.
Israel's President Isaac Herzog said in a post on X the return of the bodies "underscores our moral obligation to do everything in our power to bring back all the hostages".
French President Emmanuel Macron also confirmed the death Mr Yahalomi, who had French and Israeli citizenship, on X. "France lost 50 of its children in the infamy of October 7. The barbaric acts of Hamas must end," he said.
Many of the Palestinians were supposed to be freed in a previous swap but Israel refused to hand them over in protest over what it described as disrespectful ceremonies held by Hamas while releasing hostages.
Bilal Yassin, 42, one of the detainees freed on Thursday morning, said he had been in Israeli detention for 20 years. The West Bank native said he had faced oppression and poor conditions.
"Our sacrifices and imprisonment were not in vain," Mr Yassin told Reuters. "We had confidence in the resistance."
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Friends and family members welcome their relatives released from Israeli prisons, as they arrive at Ramallah Cultural Palace in the West Bank city of Ramallah. EPA -
A freed Palestinian prisoner is greeted after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters -
People embrace in Ramallah as Palestinian prisoners arrive on a bus after they were released from Israeli jail. Reuters -
A freed Palestinian prisoner receives medical attention. Reuters -
People embrace as Palestinian prisoners arrive. Reuters -
Freed Palestinian prisoners look out of the windows as they arrive in a bus. Reuters -
Friends and family members welcome their relatives. EPA -
A freed Palestinian prisoner receives medical attention. Reuters -
People gather to greet freed Palestinian prisoners. Reuters -
People embrace as Palestinian prisoners arrive on a bus after they were released. Reuters -
Families of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli prison wait around a bonfire for their arrival in Khan Younis. AP -
Relatives and friends of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli prison wait for their arrival in Khan Younis. AP
The truce between Israel and Hamas came into effect on January 19 and has largely held, despite numerous setbacks. But its first phase is due to end this week and the fate of its next phase, which aims to end the war, remains unclear.
Hamas on Thursday said it was ready to start talks on the second phase and the only way remaining hostages would be freed was through commitment to the ceasefire.
"Any attempts by Netanyahu and his government to backtrack on the agreement and obstruct it will only lead to more suffering for the prisoners and their families," the group said, referring to the Israeli Prime Minister, who it has repeatedly accused of ceasefire violations.
On Wednesday, after days of impasse, Egyptian mediators secured the handover of the four bodies for the 620 Palestinians, who had been either detained by Israeli forces in Gaza or jailed in Israel.
Israel refused to release the prisoners on Saturday after Hamas handed over six hostages in a staged ceremony. Hamas had been displaying living hostages and coffins carrying hostage remains on stage in front of a crowd in Gaza before handing them over, to sharp criticism including from the UN. Thursday's handover did not feature a ceremony.
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire included the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages in total for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from some positions in Gaza as well as an influx of aid to the enclave.
But with the 42-day truce due to expire on Saturday, it remains unclear whether an extension that could lead to more of the remaining hostages being freed will happen, or whether negotiations can begin on a second stage of the deal.
