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Israel demands release of six hostages instead of three on Saturday — media

According to Ynet, Israel is also preparing to receive the bodies of several hostages who died in Hamas captivity

TEL AVIV, February 18. /TASS/. Israel demands that Hamas release six hostages on Saturday instead of the three stipulated in the current agreement, the Ynet media outlet reported.

According to it, Israel is also preparing to receive the bodies of several hostages who died in Hamas captivity. The bodies will be brought to Israel two days before Saturday’s handover so that there is enough time for identification procedures, Ynet notes.

The Kan radio station, in turn, reported that Israel would receive the bodies of four to five hostages; Hamas is expected to announce their names on the morning of February 20.

On January 15, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to release the hostages held in Gaza and declare a ceasefire in the enclave. The three-phase deal took effect on January 19. During the initial 42-day phase, Hamas is expected to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

According to Israel, 73 people remain in Hamas captivity.