Palestinian detainees, released as part of the sixth hostage-detainee exchange, greeted by friends and relatives on their arrival at the European hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, Feb. 15, 2025. (Credit: Eyad Baba/AFP)
Preparations have begun at the European hospital in Khan Youis, in southern Gaza, to welcome around 600 Palestinian detainees who will be released by Israel this Wednesday evening, Reuters reported.
At the same time, Hamas will return the bodies of four Israeli hostages who died in captivity: Tsachi Idan, Itzik Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzur. Their remains will be returned "tonight" at 11 p.m. (local time), Hamas' armed wing said in a statement.
Israeli army strikes Gaza
The Israeli army said on Wednesday afternoon that it had struck projectile-launching stations in the Gaza Strip, following an earlier projectile strike which it said had landed in Palestinian territory.
"Earlier in the day, a projectile that fell inside the Gaza Strip was identified. A short time ago, [the army] struck several launch posts in the area from which the projectile was fired," the Israeli army said in a statement.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the attack in Gaza was a response to Hamas's "failed launch attempt" earlier on Wednesday. "Even during the cease-fire, we will not tolerate and we will respond with force," he said on X.