Hamas and its allies took 251 people hostage during the October 7 attack that sparked the war.

Each casket bore a small photo of each of the deceased. White mock-up missiles placed near the coffins bore the inscription: “They were killed by USA bombs.”

Hamas signalled on Wednesday that it was willing to free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in a single swap during the next phase of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.

The release, the sixth since the truce took effect on January 19, came after fears last week that the deal between Israel and Hamas was near collapse.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, which has largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza, hostages were to be released in batches in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli custody. So far, Israel and Hamas have completed five hostage-prisoner swaps.

“Netanyahu and Trump now hold the keys to a complete peace in Gaza and, in deed, in the Middle East in general”

Four female Israeli hostages held in Gaza have been handed to the Red Cross by Hamas in exchange for as many as 200 Palestinian prisoners

Israel has insisted that no-one who was involved in the 7 October attacks will be freed

Columns of people hundreds strong were making their way northward from Gaza City to Jabalia on Sunday, flanked on both sides by countless buildings turned to rubble, as a ceasefire took effect in the Palestinian territory.

“We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!” Trump said

Hezbollah’s Palestinian ally Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war, welcomed Qassem’s election.

Israel’s military says “conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” it said in a statement early on Saturday local time, after reports emerged of explosions heard in Tehran.

Netanyahu and his wife were not home at the time of the strike.

Hamas vowed Friday not to release the hostages seized during its October 7 attack on Israel until the Gaza war ends, as it mourned the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar.

Sinwar became Israel’s most wanted man after the October 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history.