Report: Hamas could transfer bodies of 2 hostages to Egypt in exchange for half of the prisoners Israel should have released Saturday

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

A deal is emerging in which Hamas will transfer two bodies of slain hostages to Egypt, while Israel releases 301 of the 602 prisoners it was scheduled to release last Saturday, according to Channel 12.

If that is carried out successfully, then the same formula could be repeated with two more slain hostages, and the remaining 301 prisoners scheduled to be released in the first phase, says Channel 12.

Going through Egypt would likely mean that the ceremony Hamas put on during the release of the Bibas boys and Oded Lifshitz last Thursday would not be repeated.

Israel is insisting that it will not release the prisoners until it verifies that the released hostages are indeed whom they expect to receive. Last week, Hamas gave Israel the body of a Gazan woman instead of Shiri Bibas.

The first stage is slated to end on Saturday.

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