(VOVWORLD) - A Lebanese official said Israeli troops started withdrawing from parts of southern Lebanon on Monday, handing control to the Lebanese army, just hours before the February 18 ceasefire with Hezbollah expired.
 Israeli soldiers patrol along the Israel-Lebanon border (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
According to The Jerusalem Post, Israel will receive the bodies of four hostages from Hamas on Thursday morning and three living hostages this Saturday.
Israel released more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees and Hamas freed 17 hostages during six exchanges under a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. The final phase 1 hostage exchange, set for next weekend, will mark the end of the ceasefire's first phase.
An Arab mini-summit in Riyadh has been postponed from Thursday to Friday, February 21. Three Arab states had been expected to attend the summit, but a Saudi source said an expanded meeting will include the leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to discuss Arab alternatives to President Trump's plans for the Gaza Strip and the displacement of Palestinians.