On 26 February, the bodies of four Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas, without ceremony, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This marks the final exchange under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, leaving 59 hostages still in captivity with no clear timeline for their release. The truce’s future remains uncertain, as Hamas signals readiness for talks on the second phase, aiming for an end to the war and further prisoner exchanges. Benjamin Netanyahu faces political pressure to resume military operations. Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, with severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter. As negotiations stall, families of hostages demand immediate action, urging leaders to secure their return. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has released a bizarre video of his vision for the golden future of the Gaza strip: see
Gaza: hostages’ bodies handed over
Written by David Fletcher 27 Feb 2025
Additional Info
- Pray: for a just and lasting peace in the region, sparing innocent lives, and that the talks about the next stage of the ceasefire will continue to hold. (Psalm 34:14)
- More: www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gdx1rpel6o