Efforts ongoing to release more Gaza hostages this week: Israeli, Palestinian sources

Family and supporters of hostages protest to mark the 500 days since Oct. 7, 2023, outside Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residency in Jerusalem, Feb. 17, 2025. (Reuters)

A Palestinian source said “a proposal was presented by the mediators in recent days” for Gaza militants “to deliver the bodies of several Israeli prisoners before Friday”
“The mediators are continuing their efforts as they aim for this step to create a positive atmosphere”

JERUSALEM: Efforts were underway to secure the release this week of all remaining living hostages eligible to be freed from Gaza under the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, an Israeli official source said Tuesday.
Of the 33 hostages set to be freed under phase one of the deal, 19 have already been released and Israel says eight are dead. That leaves just six living hostages slated for release in the current stage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Netanyahu is making tremendous efforts to release all six remaining living hostages” this week, and to secure the bodies of four others, the Israeli official source told AFP.
A Palestinian source close to the negotiations said that “a proposal was presented by the mediators in recent days” for Gaza militants “to deliver the bodies of several Israeli prisoners before Friday, and to increase the number” of living captives to be released during the seventh hostage-prisoner swap on Saturday.
“The mediators are continuing their efforts as they aim for this step to create a positive atmosphere, insisting on the continuation of the ceasefire and the implementation of the agreement,” the Palestinian source added.
The fragile truce took effect on January 19 after more than 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the Palestinian militant group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Since the first phase of the ceasefire began, 19 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Tuesday that Israel would begin negotiations “this week” on the second phase of the truce, which aims to lay out a more permanent end to the war.