Bodies of 4 Israeli hostages handed over by Hamas to Red Cross in Gaza
Khan Younis (Gaza Strip) (AP): Hamas handed over four dead hostages to the Red Cross early Thursday in exchange for Israel's release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, days before the first phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will end.
An Israeli security official confirmed that Hamas handed the bodies to the Red Cross. The official spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement.
At around the same time, a Red Cross convoy carrying dozens of released Palestinian prisoners left Israel's Ofer prison. Crowds of cheering families, friends and supporters of Palestinian prisoners were gathered in Beitunia jostling for a glimpse of the bus that was on its way.
Israel had delayed the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it called the cruel treatment of hostages during their handover by Hamas. The group has called the delay a “serious violation” of the ceasefire and said talks on a second phase aren't possible until the Palestinians are freed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had said Wednesday that the release of the bodies would be carried out without a ceremony, as opposed to past Hamas releases with stage-managed events in front of crowds. Israel, along with the Red Cross and U.N. officials, have called the ceremonies humiliating for the hostages.
Among those leaving Israel early Thursday were hundreds of detainees arrested from Gaza, held on suspicion of militancy after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, without charge for months. They include 445 men, 21 teenagers and one woman who were all arrested after the Hamas attack, according to lists shared by Palestinian officials that did not specify their ages.
Only around 50 Palestinians were being released into the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem in this round. Dozens sentenced to life over deadly attacks against Israelis will be exiled out of the Palestinian territories, taken to Egypt at least temporarily until other countries accept them.
The handover will complete both sides' obligations under the ceasefire's first phase, during which Hamas returned 33 hostages, including eight bodies, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BJP worker dies by self-immolation outside realtor’s house in Kalaburagi
Kalaburagi: A 35-year-old BJP worker died after setting herself on fire outside the house of a realtor in Nandikur village of Kalaburagi taluk on Friday night. According to police the deceased has been identified as Jyothi Patil and a case of abetment of suicide has been registered against the realtor, Mallinath Biradar.
In a report published by Deccan Herald, the local police said Jyothi arrived at Biradar’s house late in the evening and knocked on the door. At the time, his wife and three children were inside the house. When the door was opened, Jyothi asked for Biradar and before the family members could respond or intervene, she allegedly poured petrol on herself and set herself ablaze.
ALSO READ: Karnataka: Four held in connection with assault on differently-abled boy
Locals rushed to the scene, but the fire's intensity made it difficult to identify the victim. Police officers who arrived on the scene later discovered documents inside a two-wheeler parked near the house. These documents assisted officials in determining her identification. Jyothi’s husband was subsequently called to the spot to confirm it.
