In a significant development in the ongoing hostage crisis, Hamas announced on Tuesday that it will release the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including the two youngest, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, on Thursday. The group will also release six living hostages on Saturday, exceeding the previously expected number.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the agreement reached during negotiations in Cairo, stating that “four additional slain hostages are expected to be handed over to Israel next week.”
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This announcement confirms the tragic deaths of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were just nine months and four years old, respectively, when they were kidnapped during the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Hamas had claimed in November 2023 that the children were killed in an Israeli airstrike along with their mother, but Israel had not confirmed their deaths until now.
The children’s father, Yarden Bibas, was released by Hamas on February 1st. The Bibas family, particularly young Kfir, became a symbol of the hostage crisis, with his image featured on posters calling for the release of hostages.
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Hamas’ announcement comes as Israel prepares to begin talks on the second phase of the Gaza hostage-ceasefire agreement. These negotiations are expected to focus on the release of more hostages and potentially lead to a longer-term agreement.
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