Hamas has handed over what it says are the bodies of four Israeli hostages from Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israel is testing DNA samples to confirm they are the remains of Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69, all of whom were taken by Hamas in the 7 October 2023 attacks.

Israel had delayed the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it called the cruel treatment of hostages during their handover by Hamas.

Israel and Hamas began an exchange of dead Israeli hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, a swap that was delayed with the sides accusing each other of breaking the terms of the Gaza ceasefire.

The militant group turned over four coffins it said contained the bodies of Israeli captives, and Israel began releasing Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli and Hamas officials say they have reached an agreement to exchange the bodies of dead hostages for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Latest news as six hostages were released as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal but Palestinian detainees and prisoners were not.

The release came after several days of negotiations following Israel’s refusal on Saturday to exchange some Palestinian prisoners it had pledged to free.

Hamas handed over four dead hostages to the Red Cross early Thursday in exchange for Israel's release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, days before the first phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will end.

Hamas will release the bodies of four more Israeli hostages Wednesday night, a spokesperson for the militant group said Wednesday.

Dozens of detainees released to West Bank, Jerusalem before forensic experts verify IDs of the remains; 97 prisoners slated for deportation, among them the longest-serving inmate The post Palestinian prisoners freed after days-long delay as Hamas hands over slain hostages appeared first on The Times of Israel.