The release of 602 Palestinian prisoners, planned after a hostage return on Saturday, has been delayed. Reports say Israel informed Palestinian officials in the West Bank that the release will now happen at 8:00 pm this evening.

An Israeli source, quoted by Hebrew media, said that after the prime minister’s security consultation tonight, leaders will decide the next steps, including handling the remains of hostages.

The delay comes as Israel’s leadership continues discussions about the prisoner release process and the status of hostage remains.

Earlier today, photos from Ramallah showed a released Palestinian prisoner making a victory sign while leaving a bus. This moment highlights the tense situation surrounding the ongoing developments.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross collected a body from Hamas in Gaza yesterday. Two officials, including a senior Arab diplomat, told The Times of Israel that the remains were believed to be those of Shiri Bibas. However, after the body was received, it was taken to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute for identification.

Hamas had earlier said it would return Bibas’s body along with the remains of her two sons, Ariel and Kfir. But the body first presented as Shiri Bibas’s was later found to be that of a Gazan woman. Israeli authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the remains collected by the Red Cross.

As discussions continue, both the prisoner release and the handling of hostage remains remain uncertain.