Hamas to free six hostages on Saturday, return four bodies Thursday

A top Hamas official said the Palestinian militant group will release six living Israeli hostages on Saturday, instead of three as initially planned.

The bodies of four deceased hostages will be handed over to Israel on Thursday, including members of the Bibas family, Khalil al-Hayya said.

Yarden Bibas was freed on February 1. The fates of his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, have weighed heavily on Israel. All four were abducted by militants on October 7, 2023.

Hamas has claimed the three were killed in Israeli attacks in the early months of the ensuing war in Gaza, but Israel had never confirmed their deaths.

The six people to be freed on Saturday are the last living hostages scheduled to be handed over as part of the initial six-week phase of a ceasefire agreement that went into effect on January 19. Hamas has released 19 Israeli and five Thai hostages since then.

Hamas said the six living hostages to be released on Saturday include two Israelis who have been held in the Gaza Strip for about a decade.

Al-Hayya described the steps announced on Tuesday as showing Hamas’ “seriousness in implementing the terms of the agreement.”

In exchange for the release of 33 Israeli hostages in the first six-week phase, Israel is to release a total of 1,904 Palestinian prisoners.

A top Hamas official said the Palestinian militant group will release six living Israeli hostages on Saturday, instead of three as initially planned.

The bodies of four deceased hostages will be handed over to Israel on Thursday, including members of the Bibas family, Khalil al-Hayya said.

Yarden Bibas was freed on February 1. The fates of his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, have weighed heavily on Israel. All four were abducted by militants on October 7, 2023.

Hamas has claimed the three were killed in Israeli attacks in the early months of the ensuing war in Gaza, but Israel had never confirmed their deaths.

The six people to be freed on Saturday are the last living hostages scheduled to be handed over as part of the initial six-week phase of a ceasefire agreement that went into effect on January 19. Hamas has released 19 Israeli and five Thai hostages since then.

Hamas said the six living hostages to be released on Saturday include two Israelis who have been held in the Gaza Strip for about a decade.

Al-Hayya described the steps announced on Tuesday as showing Hamas’ “seriousness in implementing the terms of the agreement.”

In exchange for the release of 33 Israeli hostages in the first six-week phase, Israel is to release a total of 1,904 Palestinian prisoners.