Hamas will deliver the bodies of 4 Israeli prisoners in Gaza tonight. Ebu Ubeyde, Spokesperson of the Al-Qassam Brigades, also disclosed the names of the 4 prisoners they will be handing over.

Hazim Kasim, Hamas Spokesperson, stated to an AA correspondent, “Hamas will hand over the bodies of 4 Israeli prisoners concurrently with releasing the group of detainees the occupier postponed on Thursday and the women and children detained after October 7, 2023, from Gaza.” Kasim mentioned that Egyptian and Qatari mediators have provided clear assurances towards the process, but did not share details about the new mechanism that will ensure Israel fulfills its commitments. Hamas Spokesperson Abdullatif el-Kanu, in a written statement on the matter, had announced that Tel Aviv would release the Palestinian prisoners from the 7th round of the prisoner exchange last week, simultaneously with delivering the bodies of the Israeli prisoners on the following day. Kanu emphasized that the process would be carried out within the framework of a “new mechanism that will ensure Israel fulfills its commitments,” noting the Egyptian mediators had “guaranteed” the process, and Hamas was “committed to the implementation of the agreement.”

NAMES REVEALED The spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Ebu Ubeyde, in a written statement, announced the names of the 4 Israeli prisoners whose bodies will be handed over tonight as part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal. Ebu Ubeyde remarked, “The Qassam Brigades have decided to hand over the bodies of Zionist prisoners named Tsahi Idan, Ohad Yahalomi, Itzik Elgarat, and Shlomo Mantzur tonight.” Kanu noted that Hamas did not make any offers for the second stage of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, but expressed readiness to proceed to this stage and earnestly complete all processes. ISRAEL HAD SUSPENDED RELEASE OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS

Hamas had released 6 Israeli prisoners as part of the seventh round of the prisoner swap. Despite Hamas having released the Israeli prisoners, Israel had conditioned the release of the Palestinian prisoners on the outcome of a “security consultation” that Netanyahu was to oversee. The statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office after the security consultation had mentioned the suspension of the release of Palestinian prisoners due to allegations of “disrespectful ceremonies for Israeli prisoners and their use for propaganda purposes.” Hamas had accused Israel of attempting to manipulate the names of the prisoners to be released and openly violating the agreement, urging mediators and the international community to press on Israel to adhere to the agreement and release the prisoners without delay. CEASEFIRE AND PRISONER EXCHANGE DEAL BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL

The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel had entered into force on Sunday, January 19th at 12:15 GMT. Within the agreement, on Monday, January 27th, the Netzarim Corridor had been opened for the passage of Palestinians from south to north in Gaza, and the Israeli army had withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor on February 9th. After an 8-month occupation by the Israeli army, the Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt had been opened on February 1st for the evacuation of the sick and injured. In the first six rounds of the prisoner exchange, 1135 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and 19 Israeli and 5 Thai prisoners in Gaza had been released.