GAZA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Hamas plans to hand over another batch of bodies of Israeli hostages on Wednesday night as part of the ongoing exchange deal, a source from the group said.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that Hamas had informed mediators of its intention to transfer the remains later in the evening.
An Israeli military source told public radio the army expects Hamas to hand over five bodies.
Hamas has said it faces difficulties recovering remains from the rubble after two years of war in Gaza, while Israel accuses the group of using such claims to delay implementation of the agreement.
On Tuesday, Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, delivered the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City, bringing to eight the number of bodies transferred since the deal began. Israeli authorities said one of the bodies handed over on Tuesday did not belong to a hostage.
On Monday, Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages alive and the bodies of four other hostages. In exchange, Israel freed around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including more than 1,700 detained since the Gaza war began on Oct. 7, 2023, and returned 90 bodies, according to Palestinian institutions. ■
