A senior Hamas official announced that the group will release six living Israeli hostages on Saturday and return the bodies of four others on Thursday, marking an unexpected acceleration in hostage exchanges. This move appears to be in response to Israel allowing mobile homes and construction equipment into Gaza.
The six individuals set for release are the last living hostages designated to be freed under the first phase of the ceasefire, which involves exchanging hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli custody.
Concerns Over the Bibas Family
Israel has expressed serious concerns over Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Kfir and Ariel, whom Hamas claimed were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Yarden Bibas, the father, was kidnapped separately and released earlier this month. Kfir, just 9 months old at the time, was the youngest hostage taken during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, which resulted in 1,200 deaths in Israel and triggered the war. A widely shared video captured Shiri swaddling her redheaded sons before being taken by armed men.
Names of the Hostages Set for Release
According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the six individuals to be released include:
- Eliya Cohen (27), Omer Shem Tov (22), and Omer Wenkert (23) – abducted from a music festival.
- Tal Shoham – taken from Kibbutz Beeri, a hard-hit community.
- Hisham Al-Sayed (36) and Avera Mengistu (39) – both had crossed into Gaza years before the October 7 attack and had been held ever since.
Israel’s Response & Ongoing Ceasefire Deal
Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya confirmed in pre-recorded remarks that the dead include members of the Bibas family. However, Israel has not confirmed their deaths and urged the public not to share unverified photos or rumors.
Under the original ceasefire deal, Hamas was scheduled to release three living hostages on Saturday and another three a week later. The deal only required returning bodies of the deceased by the end of Phase One.
In return, Israel is expected to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences for deadly attacks, while others remain detained without formal charges. Additionally, Israel has agreed to free all Palestinian women and children detained since the war began.
The Next Phase: More Hostages for a Lasting Ceasefire?
The next phase of negotiations is expected to be far more challenging. Hamas has indicated that further hostage releases could be contingent on a long-term ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza—a move that remains highly contentious.
This latest development signals a shift in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, but the road ahead remains uncertain.
