Hamas is set to free six more Israeli hostages on Saturday from the Gaza Strip, as part of an exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. However, the agreement is overshadowed by heightened tension between the adversaries, casting uncertainty on the future of the fragile ceasefire deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed revenge for what he called “a cruel and malicious violation” of the agreement due to a misidentification issue with the released remains.
The family of Shiri Bibas received confirmation from Israeli forensic authorities that the remains handed over are indeed those of the Israeli mother of two young boys. This confirmation came after a body released earlier was misidentified as hers but later determined to be an unidentified Palestinian woman.
Three other bodies returned were confirmed to be those of Bibas’ sons and Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when they were taken hostage during an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of 1,200 individuals in Israel and sparked the war.
Israel's tests indicated that the hostages had been killed by their captors, while Hamas claimed they were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Hamas suggested that Israeli bombings in the area where the hostages were held might have led to a mix-up of remains.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, stated that they would proceed with the release of the six Israeli hostages planned for Saturday.
The dispute over the body’s identity has raised concerns about the ceasefire deal, which has halted over 15 months of war but is approaching the end of its initial phase. Negotiations for a second phase, involving the release of more hostages by Hamas in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, are expected to be challenging.
The six Israeli men set for release on Saturday include Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Tal Shoham, who were abducted during the Oct. 7 attack. Avera Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed, who have been held since entering Gaza on their own years ago, are also scheduled to be returned to Israel.
Hundreds of people gathered in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip as Hamas prepared to release the hostages. Over 600 Palestinians jailed in Israel will be freed in exchange, including those serving life sentences and others arrested since the war began.
Hamas plans to release four more bodies next week, completing the first phase of the ceasefire. The group has stated that it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
President Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza for U.S. ownership and reconstruction has further complicated the ceasefire. While welcomed by Netanyahu, the idea has been rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries.
Israel's military offensive in Gaza resulted in the deaths of thousands, with significant destruction and displacement. The war has had a devastating impact on Gaza's population, leaving many without homes or resources for rebuilding.
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