Hamas Calls for Ceasefire Talks After Hostage-Prisoner Exchange

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-02-27 09:09:54 |

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Hamas has stated that it is ready to negotiate the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza following a hostage-prisoner exchange. In the latest swap, Hamas returned the remains of four Israeli hostages in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners. This marked the last exchange under the initial truce agreement, which is set to expire this weekend. Negotiations for a second phase, involving the release of more hostages in return for prisoners and a lasting ceasefire, have not yet started.

The four Israeli hostages returned were identified as Ohad Yahalomi, Itzhak Elgarat, Shlomo Mantzur, and Tsachi Idan. Mantzur, 85, was killed during the October 7, 2023, attack, while the circumstances of the deaths of the other three remain unclear. Hamas emphasized that further hostage releases would only occur through negotiations.

The released Palestinian prisoners included 445 men, 21 teenagers, and one woman. Many of them had been detained without charges following the October 7 attack. Some of the freed prisoners were seen kneeling in gratitude upon their return, while others burned the shirts issued to them by Israeli authorities. The prisoner release had been delayed due to Israel's objections to Hamas publicly parading hostages during previous exchanges.

The current truce, mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, halted 15 months of conflict sparked by Hamas' attack on Israel, which left around 1,200 dead and 250 taken hostage. Israel has vowed to continue its efforts to bring back all hostages and eliminate Hamas' military and governing structures. However, a return to full-scale war may be necessary for Israel to achieve this goal, as Hamas is unlikely to release its remaining hostages—59 in total, with 32 believed to be dead—without a long-term ceasefire agreement.The war has had devastating consequences, with over 48,000 Palestinians killed, the majority reportedly women and children, and 90% of Gaza’s population displaced. The ceasefire remains fragile, with uncertainty surrounding the next steps in negotiations.

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