Hamas to Swap 4 Hostage Bodies for Prisoners as Bibi Sends Team for Talks, Egypt Rejects Gaza Role

Hamas has agreed to hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages on 27 February in exchange for the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners, according to two Hamas officials. The exchange is set to take place through Egypt, with reports indicating that it will be conducted simultaneously. The agreement resolves the delayed release of Palestinian prisoners initially scheduled for the last batch of releases. In addition to the 600 detainees, an equivalent number of Palestinian women and children will also be freed. Meanwhile, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas remain on track, with Israeli negotiators set to travel to Qatar or Egypt for further discussions. The US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, confirmed progress in negotiations, aiming for additional hostage releases in a second phase. Israeli officials have outlined three choices for Hamas following the completion of the first phase: accepting Israel’s terms by disarming and relinquishing control of Gaza, continuing to release hostages in exchange for an extended ceasefire, or returning to all-out war. If no further hostages are released by 8 March, Israel may consider the ceasefire over. Separately, Egypt has rejected Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid’s proposal for Cairo to govern Gaza for eight years in exchange for foreign debt relief, insisting that only Palestinians should administer the enclave. n18oc_world n18oc_crux