The bodies of the four hostages were returned to Israel without Hamas "ceremonies". The coffins containing the bodies of hostages Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, Shlomo Mantzur and Itzik Elgarat were handed over to the Red Cross and from there to the IDF, after which they were taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification. At the same time, more than 600 terrorists were released.
Israel said the coffins were delivered with the help of Egyptian intermediaries through an Israeli crossing and confirmed that the identification process had begun.
Around the same time, a Red Cross convoy carrying dozens of released Palestinian prisoners left Israel's Ofer prison and headed for the West Bank city of Beitunia, where crowds of cheering families, friends and supporters gathered.
A large crowd also gathered in the Gaza town of Khan Younis to welcome hundreds of released Palestinian prisoners.
This was a few days before the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which came into force on 19 January.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed the release of the prisoners until the "secured the release of other hostages, without humiliating ceremonies", which brought further doubts about the future of the ceasefire.
"Based on Israel's demands, an agreement has been reached with the mediators: four of our deceased hostages will be returned tonight as part of the first stage, through an agreed procedure and without Hamas ceremonies," reported by Now.
On Thursday morning, Kibbutz Nir Oz announced the deaths of Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, Shlomo Mantzur, and Itzik Elgarat after they returned to Israel and were identified by the medical examiner in Abu Kabir.
"It is with deep sorrow that we announce the murder of Itzik Elgarat, of blessed memory, who was abducted from his home on Saturday, October 7, on a kibbutz and murdered in captivity in Gaza," wrote the kibbutz. "Itzik is survived by two children, a brother and two sisters. We remember him with a smile, his huge heart and his willingness to always be there for anyone in need."
The kibbutz later added: "Kibbutz Nir Oz announces with great sadness the murder of Ohad Yahalomi, of blessed memory, who was kidnapped from his home on the kibbutz and murdered in captivity in Gaza. Ohad, who was 50 years old at the time of his death, was a selfless and loving family man. He loved sports and hiking was in his soul, he knew every trail and step in the desert he loved so much."
"He worked for many years with the Department of Conservation and Parks and has dedicated his life to conservation. Out of his great love for the wilderness, he and his partners published guides to the scorpions and were full partners in educational initiatives in the Bedouin community.
"Ohad is survived by his wife and three young children, his family and many friends. He will always be remembered as an ethical man full of compassion, with a love for people and the earth."
The Yahalomi family responded: "It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Ohad Yahalomi, of blessed memory. Ohad was abducted to Gaza from his home in Nir Oz on October 7, 2023 and was murdered in captivity. We are saddened and still cannot believe it."
Kibbutz Kissufim announced: "Kibbutz members mourn the murder of Shlomo Mantzur, of blessed memory, whose body was returned to Israel. Mantzur was kidnapped from the yard of his kibbutz home on October 7, and was murdered by terrorists in Gaza."
"Shlomo was the heart of our community - the grandfather of all, always with a broad smile. His image will always be with us."
euronews/ israelnationalnews.com/ gnews.cz - RoZ
English 
Czech 
Spanish 
French 
Italian 
Russian 
Chinese 
German