---
title: "Mediators agree swap of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages' bodies, source says"
description: "CAIRO, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Mediators have reached a deal to release Palestinian prisoners who were originally set to be freed by Israeli authorities last Saturday, along with the handover of Israeli hostages' bodies by Hamas, an Egyptian source said on Wednesday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Middle East conflict"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-02-26-mediators-agree-swap-of-palestinian-prisoners-for-israeli-hostages-bodies-source-says/"
published: "2025-02-26T13:47:27"
updated: "2025-02-26T13:47:29"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 121
---

# Mediators agree swap of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages' bodies, source says

> CAIRO, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Mediators have reached a deal to release Palestinian prisoners who were originally set to be freed by Israeli authorities last Saturday, along with the handover of Israeli hostages' bodies by Hamas, an Egyptian source said on Wednesday.

By Reuters · Published 26 February 2025, 15:47 SAST · Updated 26 February 2025, 15:47 SAST

## Key points
- In a dramatic twist worthy of a soap opera, Hamas is set to hand over Israeli hostage Ohad Yahalomi’s body under Egyptian watch, as the first act of a three-part ceasefire unfolds with all the suspense of a cliffhanger.
- Egyptian supervision confirmed for the handover of Israeli hostages, though release dates remain unspecified.
- Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades to release Israeli hostage Ohad Yahalomi on Thursday.
- Ohad is among four bodies set for release in the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
- The three-stage ceasefire, effective since January 19, is nearing the end of its first phase, despite mutual accusations of violations.

## Content

The source, who was briefed on the matter, said the handovers would take place under Egyptian supervision but did not specify the release date.

Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades, a Gaza-based militant group allied to Hamas, said it will release the body of Israeli hostage Ohad Yahalomi on Thursday.

Ohad's is one of four bodies set to be released by Hamas in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

The three-stage ceasefire which came into effect on January 19 is now nearing the end of its first phase. It has largely held despite accusations of violations by both sides.

(Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir in Cairo and Jana Choukeir in Dubai; Writing by Clauda Tanios; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Andrew Heavens)