TEL AVIV: Hundreds of people gathered in the stadium of hostage Tsachi Idan’s favorite soccer team in Tel Aviv Friday to pay their respects ahead of his burial.
The body of Idan was returned Thursday as Hamas handed over what it said were the remains of four Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of more than 600 Palestinian detainees held by Israel. It was the last planned swap of the ceasefire’s first phase, which began in January.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Idan, who was taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 2023 attack that sparked the war in Gaza, was killed in captivity.
On Thursday, Egypt said that “intensive discussions” between Israel and Hamas on the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza have begun in Cairo. The first phase is set to expire this weekend, but the agreement says the truce remains in effect during the negotiations.
About 60 hostages remain in captivity, of whom Israel has declared 32 to be dead.
Meanwhile, Hamas said Friday it is committed to adhering to the ceasefire agreement with Israel, as negotiators tried to tackle the second phase of the with a fresh round of talks in Cairo.
The militant group said it “reaffirms its full commitment to implementing all terms of the agreement in all its stages and details” in a statement released Friday. It called on the international community to pressure Israel to “immediately proceed to the second phase without any delay or evasion.”
The statement came as talks on the second phase kicked off, though it was unclear if progress was being made. Israel and Hamas have accused one another of violating the ceasefire at various points during the first phase.
Under the terms of the truce Israel and Hamas agreed to in January, during the second phase Hamas is supposed to release all the remaining living hostages in exchange for Israel withdrawing all its troops from Gaza and ending the war.
Hundreds gather as hostage remains are buried
https://arab.news/cbe5w
Hundreds gather as hostage remains are buried
- The body of Idan was returned Thursday
- About 60 hostages remain in captivity, of whom Israel has declared 32 to be dead
Gaza civil defense says Israeli strikes kill at least 5
- Gaza’s health ministry has previously said at least 601 people had been killed since the truce began
GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defense ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least five people on Friday.
Violence has continued in the Palestinian territory despite a US-brokered truce that entered its second phase last month, with Israel and Hamas trading accusations of violating the agreement.
The civil defense agency, which operates as a rescue force under Hamas authorities, told AFP that an air strike in the early hours of Friday morning killed at least two people and seriously injured one in central Gaza.
A drone strike in the south of the strip shortly after midnight killed three and injured several more people, the agency added.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, Israeli troops withdrew to positions behind a so-called “Yellow Line,” though they remain in control of more than half of the territory.
Gaza’s health ministry, which operates under Hamas authorities, has previously said at least 601 people had been killed since the truce began.
The Israeli military says at least four of its soldiers have been killed in the same period.
Media restrictions and limited access in Gaza have prevented AFP from independently verifying casualty figures or freely covering the fighting.
