Gaza, Palestine – The Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced on Saturday that it will hand over the bodies of two prisoners from the Israeli occupation forces.
This happened at 10:00 PM Gaza time, after they were extracted today from a combat site inside the Strip.
The battalions said in a brief statement published on their media platforms that “the two bodies were recovered from a field area that had been subjected to intense shelling over the past few days.”
This was done without revealing the identities of the two dead men or the circumstances of their deaths. This is a step within the agreement to exchange bodies.
This development comes in light of the UN and Egyptian efforts aimed at consolidating the ceasefire agreement announced this October.
Which includes a partial exchange of bodies and hostages between the two sides.
Last week, Hamas handed over the remains of a number of Israeli soldiers.
This is part of the first phase of the agreement, in exchange for the return of the bodies of Palestinians from inside Israel.
According to observers, the Qassam announced’ announcement represents a dual political message aimed at demonstrating the movement’s commitment to the terms of the truce.
On the other hand, to confirm its continued control over the field in Gaza despite the ongoing Israeli bombardment.
Background of the humanitarian crisis
These developments come as Gaza is witnessing a deteriorating humanitarian situation due to the ongoing Israeli blockade and shortages of fuel and aid.
Amid UN warnings of a humanitarian disaster threatening more than two million civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The issue of prisoners and bodies is one of the most sensitive issues in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.
As the latter seeks to recover all its dead and missing persons since the attack of October 7, 2023,
والذي أسفر عن اندلاع أوسع حرب تشهدها غزة منذ عقدين.
