Hamas hands over 4 bodies of Israeli captives for releasing 620 Palestinians

CAIRO – 27 February 2025: The Hamas movement handed over four dead bodies of Israeli captives, in exchange for releasing dozens of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons on February 27, as part of phase 1 of a prisoner swap deal between the two sides.

Egypt, Qatar, and the US have exerted tremendous mediation efforts to bring this batch of the prisoner swap deal to life as it was announced halted by Hamas after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had prevented the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, who should have been released in the last batch on February 22, in a protest against the ceremonies held by Hamas during the handover process. 

On February 27, Izz El-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, handed over the bodies of Israelicaptives Itzahi Idan, Itzik Al-Jar it, Ohad Yahalomi, and Shlomo Mansour, without any ceremonies.

Egypt has received 97 Palestinian prisoners with long-served sentences, who were expelled from Palestine. As agreed, a total of 620 prisoners have been released, including 151 prisoners with life and high sentences, 97 of whom are to be expelled outside Palestine. Additionally, the released included 445 Gazans detained after October 7 and 24 women and children.

Palestinian prisoners suffer severe emaciation due to torture 

Director of Nursing at Gaza European Hospital Saleh Al-Hamms announced that a total of 456 prisoners arrived at Gaza European Hospital on the morning of February 27, including 15 from the medical staff.

He added that the prisoners are in a state of severe emaciation and some of them cannot even walk due to the severity of the beating and torture they were subjected to.

He continued that most of the prisoners suffer from skin diseases, with one also admitting for an overnight stay at the hospital due to his suffering from lung fibrosis. Additionally, medications for scabies were given to all released prisoners.

The director of nursing revealed the released prisoners were subjected to severe beatings focused on the chest, which exposed them to fractures in the rib cage, adding that one prisoner arrived with an amputated hand and another with an amputated foot as they were not given their diabetes medication.

Al- Hamms revealed that 24 child prisoners and a female prisoner have not been released yet by the occupation forces.

Palestinian media said the release of dozens of remaining Palestinian prisoners inlcuding women and  children is set to take place after Israel identifies the four dead bodies  they have received.

Hamas: We are ready for Phase 2 of the deal

In a statement, Hamas said that it renews its full commitment to the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, with all its aspects and provisions, saying “We also confirm our readiness to enter into negotiations related to phase 2 of the agreement.”

“The occupation's attempts to obstruct the release of our prisoners have failed, in the face of the movement's persistence, and the efforts of the mediators in Egypt and Qatar, and their decisive role in pressuring the occupation,” the movement said.

Israeli media reported that by the end of the phase 1 of the exchange deal, 33 Israeli prisoners have been released, including 8 bodies and 5 Thais, while 59 Israeli prisoners remain in the Gaza Strip. Also, 1,700 Palestinian prisoners, including 700 prisoners serving life sentences and long sentences, besides 1,000 prisoners from the Gaza Strip, were released as part of the phase 1of the deal.