Hamas to Release Bodies of Four Hostages, Including Bibas Children, on Thursday; Six Living Hostages Set for Release on Saturday | CNN

Hamas announced that they would release the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday. Among those named are the Bibas children, Kfir and Ariel, who were just nine months and four years old when they were abducted in October 2023.

In a surprise twist, Hamas also declared they would free six living hostages on Saturday, which is more than the three that had been anticipated. This information came from Khalil Al-Hayya, the group’s negotiator.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that an agreement has been reached in Cairo for the transfer of these individuals. They mentioned that in addition to the four deceased hostages, four more might be handed over next week.

Families of the hostages have been informed about the upcoming releases, both living and deceased, according to a spokesperson for the Israeli Hostage Families Forum. Israel is likely to respond by releasing Palestinian prisoners in return.

The situation sheds light on the tragic fate of the Bibas children. While their deaths have not been officially acknowledged by Israel, Hamas has claimed they died in an Israeli airstrike along with their mother. Despite these claims, the Israeli military has refrained from confirming this information.

Additionally, there are ongoing efforts for further negotiations among Egyptian, Qatari, Israeli, and American officials. The expectation is that more hostages from an earlier truce deal will be released on Saturday.

Yarden Bibas, the father of Kfir and Ariel, was previously held by Hamas but was released in February. The family, particularly Kfir, has become a symbol of the tragedy from the terrorist attacks on October 7. Kfir’s image, where he is seen holding a pink elephant toy and smiling, has appeared on many posters advocating for the safe return of all hostages.

As discussions around the hostage situation continue, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, stated that negotiations for the next phase could start soon. He remains hopeful for an agreement by the 42nd day of the truce, which may even open the door for a more extended ceasefire.

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