(26 Feb 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beitunia, West Bank – 26 February 2025
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Various of message projected by the Israeli army on a building near Ofer Prison in Beitunia, in the occupied West Bank, reading in Arabic “Our eyes on you”
2. People waiting by a fire for the release of the prisoners
3. Various of Israeli military vehicles moving out of Ofer Prison
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tel Aviv, Israel – 26 February 2025
++NIGHT SHOTS++
4. Various of The National Center of Forensic Medicine exterior, where the bodies of hostages released by Hamas are expected to arrive for examination and identification
5. Mid of woman holding sign reading (Hebrew) "Sorry"
STORYLINE:
Hamas was set to hand over the bodies of four hostages late Wednesday in exchange for Israel’s release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, days before the first phase of their ceasefire will end.
Israel has delayed the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it called the cruel treatment of hostages during their handover by Hamas.
The militant group has called the delay a “serious violation” of the ceasefire and said talks on a second phase aren’t possible until the Palestinians are freed.
Plans for Wednesday’s release of the hostage bodies were confirmed by Israel’s government and Hamas’s military wing in a statement by spokesman Abu Obeida.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the release of the bodies would be carried out without a ceremony, as opposed to past Hamas releases with stage-managed events in front of crowds. Israel, along with the Red Cross and U.N. officials, have called the ceremonies humiliating for the hostages.
Israel’s prison service said it was preparing to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinian Prisoners Club, which represents current and former prisoners, said the release would happen at 11 p.m.
Expected in the release is an unspecified number of women and teenagers detained since the militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the conflict in Gaza.
The handover would complete both sides’ obligations under the ceasefire’s first phase, during which Hamas is returning 33 hostages, including eight bodies, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
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