Two youngest hostages of Hamas, aged- 2 and 5, and their mother were dead, the terror group announced and added that their bodies will be returned to Israel this weekend.
One of the child, Kfir Bibas was taken captive at 9 months old on October 7, 2023, never experienced a birthday in freedom. And another child’s name was Ariel Bibas, New York Post reported.
Israel, while not confirming the deaths of the ginger-haired siblings and their mother Shiri, expressed serious concerns about their status.
Gaza’s Hamas leader, Khalil Al Hayya, stated that four hostages’ remains would be transferred on Thursday, whilst six living captives, some detained for over ten years, would be released on Saturday.
The six individuals scheduled for Saturday’s release represent the final living hostages to be freed in the ceasefire’s initial phase, up from the original three expected.
The reason for Hamas’s altered arrangement remains unclear.
An Israeli official informed the Associated Press that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had permitted mobile homes and construction equipment into Gaza, allowing residents to commence rebuilding after 15 months of conflict.
Hamas previously threatened to delay hostage releases, citing restrictions on supply deliveries and other alleged breaches of the ceasefire agreement.
The hostage releases have been conducted in exchange for numerous Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The mid-January ceasefire halted the most lethal conflict between Israel and Hamas, enabled aid delivery to devastated Gaza, and facilitated hundreds of thousands of Palestinians returning home as Israeli forces withdrew from substantial areas.
Negotiations for the second, more complex phase, involving Hamas releasing additional hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, remain pending. Israel’s administration maintains its objective to eliminate Hamas in Gaza.
However, during the ceasefire, the militant group swiftly re-established control despite leadership losses and fighter casualties.
The earlier release of three malnourished hostages this month, alongside revelations of solitary confinement and harsh treatment, has intensified pressure on Netanyahu’s government to advance to the ceasefire’s next phase.
Families remain concerned about diminishing time – a fear reinforced by the Bibas family tragedy.