Days after Israel refused to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, Hamas has announced a new agreement brokered by Egyptian mediators to secure their return. As part of the deal, Hamas will also hand over the bodies of four Israeli captives.

On Monday, 26 February, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated that the group would release the four bodies "simultaneously with the occupation’s release of prisoners whose freedom had been delayed, in addition to an equal number of women and children arrested after 7 October in Gaza."

Qassem stressed that mediators have ensured Israel must abide by the agreement. Hamas officials confirmed that the body of Ohad Yahalomi is among those to be handed over, with Israeli media reporting that the remains will be transferred to Egyptian authorities.

Israel postponed the release of Palestinian prisoners following Hamas’s handover of six Israeli captives from Gaza on Saturday, 22 February. For Hamas, this delay is a severe breach of the ceasefire agreement, which ended Israel’s brutal war on Gaza after more than 15 months of devastation.

The first phase of the truce saw 33 captives released—including eight bodies—in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. This initial six-week phase is set to conclude on 1 March, after which the second phase should logically follow. However, negotiations that should have begun weeks ago have yet to take place.

The second phase is expected to include key provisions such as the permanent end of Israel’s military campaign, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of around 60 remaining captives held by Hamas.

The third phase will focus on the reconstruction of Gaza, which has suffered immense destruction from Israeli bombardment.

According to UN satellite data (UNOSAT), two-thirds of Gaza’s pre-war structures—more than 170,000 buildings—have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli forces.