Hamas says next swap deal with Israel will use 'new mechanism'

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, take security measures as they hand over on Saturday two Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of the seventh exchange under the Jan. 19 ceasefire deal in Rafah, southern Gaza, on February 22, 2025. [Ali Jadallah – Anadolu Agency]

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas said on Wednesday that an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for the bodies of Israeli hostages would take place through “a new mechanism” that guaranteed Israel’s compliance, Reuters has reported. The date for the exchange would be announced at the right time, it added.

The movement also said that it had not received a proposal about the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal despite its readiness to proceed with it to complete all of the proposed phases.

An Egyptian source said on Wednesday that 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.

READ: Gaza: Over 700 bodies recovered, majority unidentified

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