Under the deal, approved by Israel’s government, 33 Israeli hostages will be exchanged for more than 730 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

President Joe Biden and his top diplomats, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had sought closure during his term.

Hamas had asked for the body of its former leader to be handed over in the first phase of the agreement, in addition to several major terrorists held in Israeli prisons

Latest news and live updates as a Gaza ceasefire deal is reached after more than a year of war between Israel and Hamas.

Israel will not hand over the body of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange deal, a government source stated Monday night. Earlier in the evening, Arab media outlet Al Arabiya/Al Hadath reported that Hamas requested Sinwar's body be handed over during the first phase of the deal.

Israel and Hamas are finalizing an agreement for a phased cease-fire to end 15 months of brutal fighting in Gaza.

The deal brings hope for Palestinians facing food shortages and widespread death and destruction, but its terms are controversial for an Israeli public traumatized by the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack—and wary of security concessions. Israel’s cabinet still has to give the deal its blessing.

According to reports, Israeli troops will be permitted to remain in the so-called Philadelphia Corridor separating Egypt and Gaza for at least another six weeks, but then they're expected to leave and the so-called Phase II of the deal mandates a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and some kind of "permanent" cease-fire.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is poised to begin Sunday, the Israeli government said ahead of a security cabinet vote on Friday as part of the internal process to formally approve the

YAHYA Sinwar’s brother Mohammed who has taken over as Hamas leader is said to be working to rebuild the terror group. The younger Sinwar, dubbed “The Shadow,” is recruiting

Israeli officials have stated that Yahya Sinwar’s body, the former Hamas leader killed in an Israeli strike, will not be handed over to Hamas. The Times of Israel reported on Tuesday, January 14, that Tel Aviv made this decision in response to Hamas’s demand for the body as part of a potential hostage exchange deal.

Only hours after a possible ceasefire deal was announced between Israel and Hamas, Khalil al Hayya, chairman of the terrorist organization, declared victory, contending that the mass murder of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023, would “forever be a source of pride for our people.”