Hamas has announced that on Thursday, it will hand over the bodies of four hostages, including two young children from the Bibas family. These children, Kfir and Ariel, were just nine months and four years old when Hamas took them during the attack on October 7, 2023.
Hamas claims the children, along with their mother Shiri, were killed in Israeli airstrikes, a statement Israel has not confirmed. The children’s father, Yarden, was released by Hamas earlier this month.
Khalil al-Hayya, a spokesperson for Hamas, stated that in addition to the bodies, six living hostages will be released on Saturday, which is double the initial number expected.
In return, Israel plans to free all women and individuals under 19 who were detained since last October. Israel is also allowing rubble-clearing equipment into Gaza through the border with Egypt.
Hamas had previously claimed that the Bibas family was killed in an Israeli airstrike, a claim that remains unverified. Israeli officials have only expressed concern for the health and safety of the hostages.
Upon hearing Hamas’s announcement, the Bibas family released a statement expressing their turmoil. They noted they have not received official confirmation regarding their loved ones and emphasized that their journey isn’t over until they do.
Hamas has identified two of the six living hostages to be released: Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, both of whom crossed into Gaza voluntarily several years ago. The Israeli government has reported that both men faced mental health challenges at the time of their capture.
As part of an initial ceasefire agreement, Hamas is set to release 33 hostages. In return, Israel will release about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. Discussions aimed at a second phase, which would involve the release of the remaining hostages and a permanent end to the conflict, are reportedly set to begin soon. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that if discussions show promise, the ceasefire could be extended.
Currently, 73 hostages are believed to be held in Gaza, including Israeli soldiers and civilians as well as nationals from Thailand and Nepal. Hamas captured around 251 hostages during the October attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel. Israel’s military response has been significant, reportedly resulting in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction in Gaza.
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