Israel & Hamas reach solution on release of Palestinian prisoners amid concerns over continuation of ceasefire

The standoff between the Hamas terrorist organization and Israel regarding the release of Palestinian terror prisoners appears to have been resolved after both sides announced on Tuesday that a solution had been reached.

On Wednesday morning, Israeli media reported that a resolution to the issue had been achieved, citing Hamas sources which announced that four hostage bodies would be released on Thursday under Egyptian coordination and supervision. 

Hamas announced it had reached the agreement following a visit by its delegation to Cairo, Egypt. 

In a statement, the group said, “An agreement was also reached to resolve the problem of delaying the release of Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be released in the last batch, so that they would be released simultaneously with the bodies of the Israeli prisoners who were agreed to be handed over during the first phase, in addition to the corresponding Palestinian women and children.”

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to address the media, confirmed with the Associated Press that an agreement had been reached but did not provide additional details. 

Ynet News reported that the transfer of the hostages' remains would be conducted without any ceremony. Hamas will then pass the remains to Egypt, which will deliver them to the Red Cross for transport to Israel after the release of the Palestinian prisoners is guaranteed. 

Hamas-affiliated Quds News Network reported, “The exchange will take place simultaneously between ‘the occupation’ [Israel] and the Palestinian resistance [Hamas], with Egypt overseeing the coordination to ensure Israel complies with the release of Palestinian prisoners.” 

Meanwhile, talks about a possible extension of the ceasefire's first phase, or the start of its second phase, continue.

On Tuesday, Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, said Israel is sending a delegation to discuss phase 2 of the ceasefire deal, adding he might join the negotiations on Sunday, “if it goes well.” 

“We’re making a lot of progress. Israel is sending a team right now as we speak,” Witkoff said at an event in Washington on Tuesday for the American Jewish Committee. 

“It’s either going to be in Doha or in Cairo, where negotiations will begin again with the Egyptians and the Qataris,” he added. 

Witkoff met with Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, who is considered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s most trusted advisor. It was their second meeting in 48 hours to discuss the hostage-ceasefire deal, as the U.S. and Israel have been attempting to coordinate their positions. 

Both Netanyahu and Witkoff recently spoke about their desire to extend the first phase of the deal in the hopes of getting more hostages released from Gaza. 

In their statement on Tuesday, Hamas reaffirmed their position that “all provisions and stages” of the deal must be kept to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages. 

“The Hamas leadership delegation headed by Dr. Khalil al-Hayya concluded its visit to Cairo, where they met with Egyptian officials. They discussed the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the prisoner exchange agreement, and the prospects for the negotiations of the second phase,” the statement said.

“The movement's leadership delegation stressed its clear position on the necessity of full and precise commitment to all its provisions and stages.” 

The move to phase 2 presents a seemingly insurmountable problem, as doing so requires both Hamas and Israel to compromise on points that neither may be willing to concede. 

Netanyahu has frequently reiterated that Israel will destroy Hamas and prevent it from posing a threat to Israel again, while the terror group has consistently rejected any suggestion that it would willingly relinquish control of the Gaza Strip or abandon its armed resistance.