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Hostages

Hamas to Hand Over Israeli Hostages' Bodies Under Ongoing Exchange Deal

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Hamas is expected to hand over five bodies of Israeli hostages to Israeli authorities as part of a prisoner exchange deal, amid claims of difficulties recovering remains from the rubble in Gaza. The exchange comes as Israel freed around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 1,700 detained since the 2023 Gaza war, and returned 90 bodies to Palestinian institutions. The deal has been met with skepticism from Israeli officials, who accuse Hamas of using delays to stall implementation of the agreement.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hamas plans to hand over another batch of bodies of Israeli hostages on Wednesday night, bringing the total number of bodies transferred to eight.
  • Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, delivered the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City on Tuesday.
  • One of the bodies handed over on Tuesday was determined not to belong to a hostage by Israeli authorities.
  • Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages alive and the bodies of four other hostages on Monday, in exchange for the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and 90 bodies.
  • Israel returned 90 bodies to Palestinian institutions as part of the deal, including more than 1,700 detentions since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023.
  • Hamas has stated difficulties recovering remains from the rubble after two years of war in Gaza, while Israel accuses the group of using such claims to delay implementation of the agreement.
  • The ongoing prisoner exchange deal has been met with skepticism from Israeli officials, who accuse Hamas of using delays to stall implementation of the agreement.

Statistics:

  • 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel as part of the deal.
  • 1,700 of the released prisoners were detained since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023.
  • 90 bodies were returned to Palestinian institutions by Israel as part of the deal.
  • Four Israeli hostages were among the 20 released alive by Hamas on Monday.
  • Eight bodies of Israeli hostages have been transferred by Hamas since the start of the deal.

Sources:

  • Xinhua (via COMTEX), "Hamas to hand over another batch of Israeli hostages' bodies", October 15, 2025.
  • COMTEX_469541339/2084/2025-10-15T12:42:55.
  • Israel military source, public radio.
  • Israeli authorities.

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