Hamas announced on Tuesday (February 18) that they will return the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including Kfir Bibas and his 4-year-old brother Ariel Bibas, who were only 10 months old when they were kidnapped by the organization. They were the youngest hostages.
In a statement, Hamas’ chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya stated that the organization will also release six living hostages on Saturday (February 22), instead of the expected three.
Hamas’ announcement came on the same day as negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza hostage-ceasefire agreement between Israel.
An Egyptian source familiar with the matter confirmed to CNN that negotiations involving officials from Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the United States have been successful, and Hamas will release the remaining hostages from the first phase of the ceasefire agreement on Saturday.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed on Tuesday that Hamas will release the hostages.
The office added, “It is expected (Hamas) will hand over an additional four slain hostages to Israel next week.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that negotiations might start “this week” after discussions with “our American friends.”
Saar mentioned that their goal is to reach a new agreement before the 42 days stipulated in the initial ceasefire agreement. He also noted that there might be a longer-term agreement in the future, but it is currently just an “option.”
A spokesperson for the “Forum of Hostages and Missing Persons in Israel” stated that all families of the released hostages (deceased or alive) have been notified.
Following the practice of the past few weeks, Israel is expected to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages.
According to Hamas’ claim in November 2023, at that time, the youngest hostages – 10-month-old Kfir and his 4-year-old brother Ariel – perished in an airstrike. Their father, Yarden Bibas, was released from Hamas on February 1.
However, Israel has not officially confirmed the deaths of the Bibas brothers, nor have they commented on Hamas’ statement.