Israel PM says Thursday to be ‘heartbreaking day’ as Hamas to hand over hostage bodies

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Thursday would be a “heartbreaking day” for Israel as it receives the bodies of four hostages set to be handed over by Hamas as part of the ongoing Gaza truce deal.

“Tomorrow will be a very difficult day for the State of Israel — a heartbreaking day, a day of grief. We are bringing home four of our beloved hostages — fallen heroes,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Wednesday.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it had received the names of hostages whose bodies Hamas is set to hand over on Thursday.

“Israel has received the list of deceased hostages who are scheduled to be released tomorrow as part of the (Gaza truce) framework,” it said in a statement Wednesday, adding that it had “updated the families of the hostages through IDF (military) representatives.”