A senior Hamas leader has announced plans to release six living Israeli hostages on Saturday, alongside the remains of four deceased hostages on Thursday, which includes the Bibas family, emblematic of the Israeli suffering in the ongoing conflict. The uncertain fate of Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, highlights the distressing situation faced by many families, as numerous hostages remain unaccounted for in Gaza following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. Israeli authorities express grave concern for the hostages’ wellbeing but have yet to confirm any fatalities.
The release of these six hostages marks the conclusion of the first phase of the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza, which has temporarily halted severe hostilities, facilitated humanitarian aid delivery, and enabled many Palestinians to return home. Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas leader, indicated the Bibas family would be part of the body handover but provided few details. This upcoming release was revised from an earlier plan to free three hostages.
Negotiations for a subsequent phase remain challenging, with the focus on securing the release of additional hostages in exchange for a longer-lasting ceasefire and an Israeli troop withdrawal. These exchanges have been part of broader negotiations connecting the release of Israeli hostages to the fate of numerous Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.