According to a report by The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, Hamas is reportedly demanding that Israel return the bodies of its slain leaders, Yahya Sinwar and his brother Mohammed Sinwar, as part of ongoing negotiations tied to the implementation of the U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing Arab mediators, reported on Tuesday that the militant group has made the demand a key condition in the latest phase of ceasefire and prisoner exchange discussions.
According to the report, Israel has so far rejected Hamas’s request for the handover of the Sinwar brothers’ remains. Yahya Sinwar, who served as Hamas’s top leader in Gaza and was widely regarded as the chief architect of the October 7 attacks on Israel, was killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in an operation in Tel Sultan, Rafah, in October last year. His brother, Mohammed Sinwar—appointed to lead Hamas’s military wing after Yahya’s death was subsequently killed in an Israeli airstrike in May this year.
The demand for the return of the Sinwars’ bodies has reportedly become a symbolic and political issue for Hamas, which views the brothers as central figures in the group’s resistance movement. Yahya Sinwar, in particular, had become a rallying figure for Hamas supporters, and his death marked a significant turning point in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Beyond the request for the brothers’ remains, Hamas is also seeking the release of several high-profile Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. According to an Egyptian official familiar with the negotiations who spoke to Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat, the group has submitted a list that includes well-known figures such as Abdullah Barghouti, Marwan Barghouti, and Hassan Salameh.
Marwan Barghouti, a prominent leader of the Fatah movement, has long been seen as a potential unifying figure in Palestinian politics and a possible successor to Mahmoud Abbas. Abdullah Barghouti and Hassan Salameh, both senior Hamas operatives, were convicted of orchestrating deadly attacks during the Second Intifada.
The report also noted that Hamas is expected to press for the release of additional prisoners, including Ahmad Sa’adat, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); Ibrahim Hamed, a senior Hamas commander; and Abbas al-Sayed, who was convicted of involvement in the 2001 Netanya bombing.
Negotiations over prisoner exchanges and the broader ceasefire deal remain ongoing, with regional mediators particularly Egypt and Qatar working to bridge wide gaps between the two sides. While Israel continues to reject several of Hamas’s demands, sources say the talks have intensified in recent weeks amid growing international pressure to halt the conflict and advance a political resolution. See, More, Here>>>
Explore More News By Using The Button Above