Dozens of detainees released to West Bank, Jerusalem before forensic experts verify IDs of the remains; 97 prisoners deported abroad, including several prominent Hamas figures The post Palestinian prisoners freed after days-long delay as Hamas hands over slain hostages appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Hamas has said it is preparing to release the last four Israeli hostage bodies included in the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The bodies of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzur will be handed over to Israel on Wednesday night, the armed wing of the militant group said.

Bus carrying dozens of Palestinian prisoners arrives at Cultural Palace, says Anadolu correspondent - Anadolu Ajansı

Four coffins said to contain the remains of Israeli hostages have been received by Israel, as Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in an overnight exchange as part of the fragile ceasefire deal.

An Israeli group representing families of hostages held by Hamas says the remains of all four hostages returned early Thursday have been identified.

Order a Coke to wash down some hummus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank these days and chances are the waiter will shake his head disapprovingly -- or worse, mutter "shame, shame" in Arabic -- before suggesting the popular local alternative: a can of Chat Cola.

The militant group’s chief negotiator also said Hamas would increase the number of living hostages it would release on Saturday to six from three.

Militant group Hamas said on Thursday it was ready to begin talks on the second phase of a ceasefire in Gaza after several hundred Palestinians were released from