Hamas plans seventh hostage-prisoner swap amid ceasefire

Hamas has stated it will only complete future prisoner exchanges with Israel under a ceasefire and has emphasized that reconstruction in Gaza must begin. A spokesman reiterated that after 33 days without full adherence to the agreement by Israel, Hamas remains committed to releasing all Israeli prisoners in exchange for a complete cessation of hostilities. The latest exchange involves six Israeli hostages being released in return for 602 Palestinian prisoners, with accusations arising over the misidentification of a body related to the hostage Shiri Bibas. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned Hamas, labeling them as 'monsters,' while Hamas acknowledged a possible error in the body identification, attributing it to Israeli bombings. Despite heightened tensions and allegations of ceasefire violations, both sides are adhering to the current agreement, with Hamas confirming it will release more bodies next week. The first phase of the ceasefire deal is set to expire in early March, raising concerns about the future of the negotiations.