KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israel declared on Thursday it would not back down from holding a critical area within the Gaza Strip, defying stipulations set out by the ceasefire agreement. The move threatens to escalate tensions with both Hamas and Egypt, which are involved in mediating the truces. According to sources, Israeli officials insist their troops must stay in the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, a crucial passageway used to curb weapon smuggling.
This announcement occurred shortly after a significant prisoner exchange took place: Hamas returned the remains of four hostages in exchange for over 600 Palestinian detainees. This exchange marks the last planned swap of the truce’s initial phase, set to conclude this weekend, with further negotiations for the following phase yet to commence.
The agreement had detailed that Israeli forces should start vacating the Philadelphi corridor starting Saturday, coinciding with the end of the first truce phase, and should conclude the withdrawal within eight days. The upcoming visit of U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is a pivotal moment as he is expected to land in the region soon and possibly influence the ongoing negotiations.
Hamas and Egyptian officials have so far refrained from making immediate public statements. However, a previous statement from Hamas highlighted that negotiations and compliance with the ceasefire agreement remain the key pathways for Israel if they want to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed condolences and acknowledged the identification of the returned hostages’ remains as Ohad Yahalomi, Itzhak Elgarat, Shlomo Mantzur, and Tsachi Idan. Mantzur, aged 85, was slain during the initial Hamas attack that instigated the war on October 7, 2023, while the others were reportedly killed while in captivity. Herzog emphasized, “In this painful moment, there is some solace in knowing that they will be laid to rest in dignity in Israel.”
Outside of Israel, French President Emmanuel Macron conveyed his sorrow for the bereaved family of Yahalomi, who also held French nationality. On the other side, Hamas confirmed it released over 600 detainees, with most being individuals held without charge following the October 7 aggression.
A wave of emotion swept through as released prisoners arrived back in Palestinian territories. In Khan Younis, numerous former detainees fell in gratitude, while in Beitunia, relatives warmly welcomed them. Notably, some of the released individuals discarded or burned their issued shirts, a symbolic statement against Israel.
There were complications on the Israeli side, which delayed the prisoner release in response to Hamas’s tactic of showcasing hostages during their handover. Israel, supported by entities like the Red Cross and U.N., have criticized such acts as debasing to the hostages’ dignity. However, on Thursday night, Hamas discreetly transferred the hostages’ bodies to the Red Cross in Gaza.
In this release, 445 men, 21 teenagers, and one woman were among the freed, though exterior records did not mention their ages. Only about 50 were released into the territories of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, while many others serving life sentences for lethal offenses against Israelis faced exile.
The final handover marked the end of the ceasefire’s preliminary six-week phase, which is set to lapse over the weekend. At this point, Hamas has handed over 33 hostages, including eight bodies, in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Trump’s envoy, Witkoff, has signaled intentions to shift the dialogue toward the subsequent phases of the negotiations. However, with the first week of February slated as a start for these talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains steadfast in his vow to bring home all hostages and dismantle Hamas’s military and leadership stronghold. Despite endorsement from the Trump administration, the route to achieving these goals without escalating conflict remains uncertain.
The ceasefire, engineered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, ceased the 15-month Gaza conflict escalating from Hamas’s aggressive October 2023 attack on Israel’s southern frontier, an incident that resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages being seized.
If the identities are confirmed for all returned bodies, it will reduce the number of remaining captives in Gaza to 59, with 32 among them presumed deceased. Around 150 have gained freedom through the ceasefire deals, with other recovered remains brought back by Israeli military forces, and eight hostages have been rescued alive.
Casualty reports from Palestinian health officials state over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, but distinctions between civilians and combatants remain unclear. Notably, more than half of these casualties were women and children.
The conflict has led to the displacement of an estimated 90% of Gaza’s residents while extensively damaging the region’s infrastructure and health system.
