Kat Lonsdorf

Well, Hamas says all four were killed by Israeli strikes during their time in captivity in Gaza. Israel says it will take the bodies to an Israeli forensic institute here in Tel Aviv, which will examine them and provide official identification and also seek to determine the cause of death.

Well, Hamas says all four were killed by Israeli strikes during their time in captivity in Gaza. Israel says it will take the bodies to an Israeli forensic institute here in Tel Aviv, which will examine them and provide official identification and also seek to determine the cause of death.

Well, Hamas says all four were killed by Israeli strikes during their time in captivity in Gaza. Israel says it will take the bodies to an Israeli forensic institute here in Tel Aviv, which will examine them and provide official identification and also seek to determine the cause of death.

Yeah, it was definitely more somber and much less celebratory on both sides. In Gaza, large crowds gathered in Khan Yunis in the south. Masked Hamas gunmen presided over a ceremony on a stage with four coffins draped in black. There were large posters on both sides of the stage in Hebrew and English. One depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a fanged vampire.

Yeah, it was definitely more somber and much less celebratory on both sides. In Gaza, large crowds gathered in Khan Yunis in the south. Masked Hamas gunmen presided over a ceremony on a stage with four coffins draped in black. There were large posters on both sides of the stage in Hebrew and English. One depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a fanged vampire.

Yeah, it was definitely more somber and much less celebratory on both sides. In Gaza, large crowds gathered in Khan Yunis in the south. Masked Hamas gunmen presided over a ceremony on a stage with four coffins draped in black. There were large posters on both sides of the stage in Hebrew and English. One depicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a fanged vampire.

Another said that if Israel resumed the war, more hostages would come home in coffins. In Israel, unlike previous releases, the Hamas ceremony was not broadcast on Israeli TV and Israeli media outlets did not publish images from it out of respect for the families.

Another said that if Israel resumed the war, more hostages would come home in coffins. In Israel, unlike previous releases, the Hamas ceremony was not broadcast on Israeli TV and Israeli media outlets did not publish images from it out of respect for the families.

Another said that if Israel resumed the war, more hostages would come home in coffins. In Israel, unlike previous releases, the Hamas ceremony was not broadcast on Israeli TV and Israeli media outlets did not publish images from it out of respect for the families.

Once the caskets were in Israeli custody, they were then draped with Israeli flags and then they were driven from Gaza to Tel Aviv and large crowds gathered along the route to show solidarity and respect.

Once the caskets were in Israeli custody, they were then draped with Israeli flags and then they were driven from Gaza to Tel Aviv and large crowds gathered along the route to show solidarity and respect.

Once the caskets were in Israeli custody, they were then draped with Israeli flags and then they were driven from Gaza to Tel Aviv and large crowds gathered along the route to show solidarity and respect.

Yeah, so Saturday is going to be a big day. The remaining six live hostages that Hamas has committed to releasing in this first phase will be released, including two have been held for around a decade. And they'll be released in exchange for more than 600 Palestinians released from Israeli jails. This first phase of the deal ends on March 2nd.

Yeah, so Saturday is going to be a big day. The remaining six live hostages that Hamas has committed to releasing in this first phase will be released, including two have been held for around a decade. And they'll be released in exchange for more than 600 Palestinians released from Israeli jails. This first phase of the deal ends on March 2nd.

Yeah, so Saturday is going to be a big day. The remaining six live hostages that Hamas has committed to releasing in this first phase will be released, including two have been held for around a decade. And they'll be released in exchange for more than 600 Palestinians released from Israeli jails. This first phase of the deal ends on March 2nd.

And so far, talks for the next phase haven't started yet. They were supposed to start weeks ago. So we're really just waiting to see what happens with that. Meanwhile, there still will be dozens of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Around half of them are believed to be alive. That is NPR's Kat Lonsdorf in Tel Aviv.

And so far, talks for the next phase haven't started yet. They were supposed to start weeks ago. So we're really just waiting to see what happens with that. Meanwhile, there still will be dozens of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Around half of them are believed to be alive. That is NPR's Kat Lonsdorf in Tel Aviv.

And so far, talks for the next phase haven't started yet. They were supposed to start weeks ago. So we're really just waiting to see what happens with that. Meanwhile, there still will be dozens of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Around half of them are believed to be alive. That is NPR's Kat Lonsdorf in Tel Aviv.

Hey, Ari.

Hey, Ari.