A significant development has occurred after an extended stalemate, as Hamas has released the remains of four Israeli hostages. This move came in anticipation of a reciprocal release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, constituting the last segment of a fragile truce structured for Gaza.

According to Noga Tornapolsky, a France24 correspondent stationed in Jerusalem, on Wednesday, Egyptian mediators played a crucial role. The pressure exerted by these mediators led to the coffins containing the Israeli hostages being handed over to Israeli authorities in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday. This information was confirmed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Source: https://www.france24.com/en/video/20250227-israel-hamas-bodies-of-four-israelis-returned-over-600-palestinians-freed