Hamas hands over remains of four Israeli hostages in theatrical ceremony. The four victims, including a woman and her two young children, were abducted during a brutal attack in October 2023. The handover took place near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, with coffins placed on a stage with a cartoonish image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ceremony was viewed with horror by Israelis, who had hoped to bring all hostages home alive.
The exchange was part of a 42-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, with Hamas agreeing to release 25 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israel is expected to release women and minors from Gaza in return.
The hostages were kidnapped during a deadly Hamas-led attack that saw 1,200 people killed, leading to a brutal Israeli campaign in Gaza that left tens of thousands dead. The victims were part of a group taken from the hard-hit Israeli community of Nir Oz.
The future of the cease-fire remains uncertain, with talks to extend the agreement and bring an end to the conflict ongoing. President Trump has urged both sides to reach a deal, but Hamas is resisting disbanding its armed groups or relinquishing control in Gaza. Israelis continue to mourn the loss of the hostages and the brutality of the attack.
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