Hamas Says It's Ready for Talks on Second Phase of Ceasefire

It Releases Bodies of Four Israeli Hostages in Final Exchange of Current Gaza Truce

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JERUSALEM/TEL AVIV/GAZA - Militant group Hamas said on Feb. 27 that it was ready to begin talks on the second phase of a ceasefire in Gaza, after several hundred Palestinians were released from Israeli jails overnight in return for the bodies of four Israeli hostages.

It was the final exchange of the six-week first phase of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza that came into effect on Jan. 19.

Israel said on the morning of Feb. 27 that three of the hostages whose bodies it had received overnight had been murdered in captivity and the fourth had been killed on the day of the October 2023 Hamas raid into Israel that precipitated the war.

There was no immediate response from Hamas to the allegation the hostages had been killed in captivity. The group has previously denied killing hostages and said some had died as a result of Israeli bombardment.

Talks have yet to begin on a second phase of the ceasefire, meant to lead ultimately to a permanent end to the war.

Hamas said on Feb. 27 the only way remaining hostages in Gaza would be freed is through commitment to the ceasefire.