Hamas has announced that they will be returning the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday in exchange for Israel's release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. This development comes just days before the first phase of the ceasefire between the two parties was set to expire.
Israel has delayed the release of approximately 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday in protest of what they claim is the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas. The militant group has labeled this delay as a 'serious violation' of the ceasefire and has stated that talks on a second phase cannot proceed until the Palestinian prisoners are freed.
