From the Times of Israel's liveblog:
Only four of 28 bodies of dead hostages to be returned today, families forum says, denouncing ‘blatant breach of agreement by Hamas’
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum says only four of the 28 bodies of dead hostages will be returned to Israel today, calling it a “blatant breach” of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
There has not been an announcement on the identities of the four, and there has been no confirmation from Israeli authorities on the number of bodies expected today.
Several families of dead hostages were told by Israeli authorities yesterday that their loved ones’ bodies would not be returned today or tomorrow, and that Israel would spare no effort to locate and return them. However, numerous sources had indicated that the majority of the dead hostages would be returned today or soon afterward.
Hamas had warned that it would have difficulties locating some of the bodies.
“This represents a blatant breach of the agreement by Hamas. We expect Israel’s government and the mediators to take immediate action to rectify this grave injustice,” the forum says, noting it is “shocked and dismayed.”
“The families of the deceased hostages are enduring especially difficult days filled with deep sorrow,” says the group. “We will not abandon any hostage. The mediators must enforce the agreement’s terms and ensure Hamas pays a price for this violation.”
Earlier today, 20 living hostages were released under the deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, who is currently in Israel.
Israel says it has freed all 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 lifetermers, as part of still-unfinished hostage deal
All Palestinian prisoners to be freed under the US-backed hostage deal have been released from Israeli prisons, an IDF spokesperson tells The Times of Israel.
The prisoners include 250 terror convicts serving one or more life sentences, as well as 1,718 Gazan detainees arrested over the course of the war.
Israel had initially said it would wait until all hostages had been released, but instead decided to free the prisoners after all 20 living hostages were freed this morning but before Hamas handed over the bodies of 28 hostages believed to be dead.
Palestinian media outlets publish footage showing the arrival of prisoners released in the hostage deal and permitted to return to the West Bank arriving in Ramallah. Palestinian Authority security forces can be seen moving people away from the area to allow buses to pass.
....MUCH MUCH MORE
And from Middle East Eye, October 11:
Hamas says Tony Blair not welcome in Gaza following ceasefire
