Hamas to hand over six Gaza hostages and bodies of four

Hamas yesterday promised to free six hostages and hand over the remains of four dead captives, two of them young children.

- Julian Borger

Khalil al-Hayya, a Hamas negotiator, said the four bodies to be returned tomorrow would include those of 32-year-old Shiri Bibas and her sons, Kfir and Ariel.

The boys were nine months and four years old when they were abducted in the 7 October 2023 attacks that ignited the war in Gaza.

Their father, Yarden Bibas, was told by Hamas that his family were all dead when he was released earlier this month. However, Israeli officials were not able to confirm their deaths and relatives said Bibas had believed they could still be alive.

Hamas claims the boys and their mother were killed by Israeli bombing. It said it would release the six hostages on Saturday, which represents a slight acceleration of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

Under the originally agreed timetable, they were to be released in two groups of three, the last on 1 March, when the second phase is due to begin. A further four bodies will be delivered on schedule next week.