The Palestinian militant group Hamas will return the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The announcement was made by the group, which Washington and the European Union have designated as a terrorist organization. The latest exchange will take place with just days left before the end of the first phase of a ceasefire between the warring parties.
Israel has postponed the release of about 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday in protest at what it says is the humiliating treatment of hostages during their release by the Hamas group.
The militant group has said the delay is a "serious violation" of the ceasefire and that talks for a second phase are not possible until the Palestinians are released.
Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the Palestinian militant group would hand over the bodies of the four Israelis on Thursday. VOA (A2 Televizion)
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