In a pivotal development in the ongoing Gaza ceasefire deal, Hamas announced the release of six living Israeli hostages on Saturday and the return of four bodies, including members of the Bibas family, on Thursday.
The Bibas family, reeling from Hamas’s announcement, stated they have not received confirmation from Israel. Hamas had previously claimed that Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas were killed in an IDF strike—a claim Israel dismissed as propaganda. Their father, Yarden Bibas, was freed on February 1, 2025.
Among the six living hostages set for release are long-held captives Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, alongside Tal Shoham, Omer Shem-Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen, all abducted during the October 7, 2023, attacks. Israeli officials hailed the agreement, reached in Cairo, as a critical achievement.
Meanwhile, Israel is preparing to identify the returned bodies at the Abu Kabir National Center for Forensic Medicine, using biometric data collected soon after the hostages’ abduction. Families will be notified before public announcements are made.
The completion of phase one, marked by these releases, will account for 33 hostages—19 returned alive and 14 confirmed deceased. As part of the deal, Hamas will release four additional bodies next week.
Negotiations for phase two are expected to begin shortly, with Israel demanding Gaza’s total demilitarization and signaling that Hamas’s continued armament is a non-starter. The second phase could see the release of 24 more hostages.
This expedited exchange follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent push for the immediate release of all living hostages. Additionally, Israel has agreed to allow humanitarian equipment into Gaza, contingent on inspections.
