BREAKING: Israel prepares for return of four hostages’ bodies after mediation efforts 

Kan 11's military correspondent Itai Blumenthal reports that with the intervention of the mediators, Israel is preparing to receive back four bodies of the hostages as early as this coming Thursday. The IDF has begun preparations for the handover.

According to the plans, Hamas will pass on the names of the hostages who were killed in captivity in the morning. On Saturday there will be a seventh round of the release of three Israeli hostages.

IDF ambulances will wait for a connection point and from there they will be taken directly to Abu Kabir for identification.

Only after cross-checking the identities of the hostages will the families be finally informed in Israel.

The transfer of the bodies was scheduled for the 33rd day of the ceasefire, as outlined in a secret annex of the agreement that was not publicly disclosed in Israel. Additionally, Hamas is expected to hand over four more bodies next week.

In exchange for the return of the bodies, Israel has agreed to release all women and minors under the age of 19 who have been detained in Gaza since October 8, 2023.