Hamas to hand over remains of 4 Israeli hostages on Monday under Gaza ceasefire deal

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Palestinian group Hamas said it will hand over the remains of four Israeli hostages on Monday under a Gaza ceasefire agreement.

A statement by the group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said the bodies of Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Perez will be transferred.

Hamas released 20 living Israeli hostages early Monday in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement took effect on Friday under US President Donald Trump’s plan to end a two-year Israeli war in Gaza.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 67,800 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, leaving the enclave largely uninhabitable.