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Today's Paper | March 17, 2026

Published 25 Feb, 2025 09:29am

Israel offering to free Palestinians if Hamas returns bodies without ceremony: report

Israel’s Ynet News is reporting that Israeli authorities have told mediators they are ready to release the Palestinians who were supposed to be freed on Saturday if Hamas hands over the bodies of the captives it is slated to free later this week, “without a humiliating ceremony”, Al Jazeera reports.

The news outlet said Hamas in turn demanded that the 620 Palestinians, as well as more held in Israeli jails, be released at the same time as the four bodies are handed over.

Israel, however, says the release can only take place after the bodies are identified, Ynet News said.

“Hectic” negotiations for the handover continue to take place, the outlet reported, adding that Israel estimates that the talks may be successful soon.

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