Hamas was set to hand over the bodies of four hostages late on Wednesday in exchange for Israel’s release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel has delayed the release of 602 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it called the cruel treatment of hostages during their handover by Hamas.
Initial identification of the four hostages’ bodies at the Kerem Shalom crossing will take place “as quickly as possible while being sensitive to the families”, Israel’s Ministry of Health said.
Plans for Wednesday’s release of the hostage bodies were confirmed by Israel’s government and Hamas’s military wing in a statement by spokesman Abu Obeida.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club, which represents current and former prisoners, said the release would happen at 11pm.
