Hamas announced on Tuesday that they will be releasing the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including the two youngest captives, Kfir and Ariel Bibas. The group also stated that six living hostages will be released on Saturday, exceeding the initial expectation of three. This decision follows negotiations in Cairo, resulting in an agreement confirmed by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.
The families of the hostages have been notified about the upcoming releases, both deceased and alive. It is believed that Israel will reciprocate by releasing Palestinian prisoners, as seen in previous exchanges. The Bibas children, who were taken captive in October 2023 at the ages of nine months and four years, are presumed deceased, although Israel has not officially confirmed this.
Hamas had previously claimed that Kfir and Ariel Bibas, along with their mother, were killed in an Israeli airstrike. A video released by Hamas featured the children's father, Yarden, who was also held captive, blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their deaths. Yarden Bibas was released alive on February 1.
The Bibas family, especially young Kfir, has become a symbol of the tragic events that unfolded in October 2023. Kfir's image has been widely circulated on posters advocating for the hostages' release.
Furthermore, Hamas' announcement coincided with Israel's plans to commence discussions on the second phase of the Gaza hostage-ceasefire agreement. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar indicated that negotiations could begin soon, with the goal of reaching an agreement within the specified timeframe.
