Hamas to Release Bodies of Israeli Hostages Amid Ongoing Negotiations

CAIRO, Egypt — Hamas announced on Tuesday that it will release the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including the two youngest victims, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, on Thursday. The group also confirmed the release of six living hostages on Saturday, a significant increase from the previously expected three, according to Khalil Al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ negotiating team.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office verified the agreement during negotiations in Cairo, stating that four deceased hostages will be returned on Thursday, and six living hostages will be handed over on Saturday. Moreover, it indicated that four additional bodies are expected to be transferred to Israel next week.

The families of the hostages, including the Bibas family, have been informed of the upcoming releases, which signify the tragic confirmation of the Bibas children’s deaths. It is believed that Kfir, who was nine months old, and Ariel, who was four years old at the time of their abduction on October 7, 2023, were killed during an Israeli airstrike, as claimed by Hamas.

The Israeli military has not corroborated Hamas’ assertions regarding the Bibas children and has expressed “grave concerns” about their well-being.

An Egyptian source familiar with the negotiations indicated that talks involving Egyptian, Qatari, Israeli, and U.S. officials led to this agreement to expedite the release of hostages. Hamas has claimed, in prior communications, that Kfir and Ariel Bibas died in the airstrike, prompting their father, Yarden Bibas, to publicly blame Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video that Hamas released. The Israeli military denounced the video as psychological warfare.

Hamas is also set to receive a substantial number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages. This exchange follows a growing urgency on the part of Israeli families and the government due to the deteriorating conditions of hostages released earlier, some of whom have shown signs of severe malnutrition and psychological distress.

Today’s announcement coincided with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar‘s statement regarding the initiation of talks concerning the second phase of the Gaza hostage-ceasefire agreement, which could start this week. Saar emphasized the intent to reach a decision within the agreed-upon time frame of 42 days from the start of the ceasefire for all hostage releases.

While the news about the Bibas family is sorrowful, they have since become emblematic of the harrowing experience of many hostages taken during the conflict. Posters of Kfir, smiling while clutching a pink elephant toy, have circulated widely, capturing public sympathies both locally and internationally.

Families anxiously await clarification on the status of their loved ones, with the government urging against speculation until definitive identification is made upon the return of the deceased. The ongoing exchanges represent not only a step towards the release of remaining hostages but also highlight the complexities of the negotiations and the war that continues to impact thousands of lives.