Jerusalem, Feb 28 (AP) Hundreds of people gathered in the stadium of hostage Tsachi Idan's favourite soccer team in Tel Aviv Friday to pay their respects ahead of his burial.

The body of Idan was returned Thursday as Hamas handed over what it said were the remains of four Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of more than 600 Palestinian detainees held by Israel. It was the last planned swap of the ceasefire's first phase, which began in January.

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The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Idan, who was taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the Hamas-led October 7 2023 attack that sparked the war in Gaza, was killed in captivity.

On Thursday, Egypt said that “intensive discussions” between Israel and Hamas on the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza have begun in Cairo. The first phase is set to expire this weekend, but the agreement says the truce remains in effect during the negotiations.

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About 60 hostages remain in captivity, of whom Israel has declared 32 to be dead.

Here's the latest:

Hamas says it is committed to implementing all terms of the ceasefire deal

Hamas said Friday it is committed to adhering to the ceasefire agreement with Israel, as negotiators tried to tackle the second phase of the with a fresh round of talks in Cairo.

The militant group said it “reaffirms its full commitment to implementing all terms of the agreement in all its stages and details” in a statement released Friday. It called on the international community to pressure Israel to “immediately proceed to the second phase without any delay or evasion.”

The statement came as talks on the second phase kicked off, though it was unclear if progress was being made. Israel and Hamas have accused one another of violating the ceasefire at various points during the first phase.

Under the terms of the truce Israel and Hamas agreed to in January, during the second phase Hamas is supposed to release all the remaining living hostages in exchange for Israel withdrawing all its troops from Gaza and ending the war.

8 arrested for spitting at churches amid tensions

JERUSALEM — Israeli police said Friday they arrested eight people for spitting at churches in Jerusalem's Old City, as religious tensions threatened to flare in the contested capital.

Grainy security video released by the police showed two young Jewish men in a procession, who appeared to be spitting on the ground.

The police said they arrested both minors and adults, but did not specify their ages or names.

Clergy have said that attacks on church property in the Old City have worsened since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war October 7, 2023.

The arrests come as the Old City gears up for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a holiday that could spark clashes.

Sister of dead hostage asks for his forgiveness in stadium eulogy

TEL AVIV — Mourners in Israel on Friday were burying the remains of one of the last hostages released in the first phase of the ceasefire between Hamas militants and Israel, as negotiators discussed a second phase of the deal that could end the war in Gaza and see the remaining live hostages returning home.

The funeral procession for Tsachi Idan, an avid soccer fan who was 49 when he was abducted by Hamas militants, began from a football stadium in Tel Aviv towards the cemetery where he was to be buried in a private ceremony.

“Today, I say goodbye to my dear brother,” said Idan's sister, Noam Idan Ben Azra, speaking before the crowd of fans of Hapoel Tel Aviv, the soccer team Idan supported. “I asked him for forgiveness, on our behalf, that he was returned in a coffin not walking as he was taken.”

Idan was taken from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. His eldest daughter, Maayan, was killed as militants shot through the door of the family's safe room. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)