Hamas to release six Israeli hostages soon.
Israel confirmed that its tests concluded three hostages were killed by their captors. Hamas, however, has denied responsibility, instead claiming that Lifshitz and the Bibas family members lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The conflicting statements have intensified tensions as both sides present differing narratives regarding the tragic deaths. The situation remains highly sensitive, with international organizations calling for independent verification of the circumstances. The deaths have fueled further debate over accountability in the ongoing conflict. As the ceasefire efforts continue, the fate of remaining hostages and the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza remain pressing concerns for all involved parties.
Jerusalem: Hamas is set to release six more Israeli hostages on Saturday from the Gaza Strip, but the exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners is overshadowed by heightened tensions between the adversaries, casting uncertainty over the fragile ceasefire agreement.
As preparations progressed on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge for what he called “a cruel and malicious violation” of the agreement, referring to the misidentification of a body released by Hamas.
The family of Shiri Bibas confirmed that Israeli forensic authorities had identified remains released overnight as belonging to the Israeli mother of two small boys. Her body was handed over by militants on Friday after an initial set of remains given to Israel on Thursday was wrongly identified as hers. It was later determined to be the body of an unidentified Palestinian woman.
Three other bodies returned by Hamas were confirmed to be those of Bibas’ sons and Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when they were all taken hostage during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 people in Israel and ignited the war.
Israel has stated that its tests determined the three hostages were killed by their captors. Hamas, however, claims that Lifshitz and the Bibas family were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
Hamas has pledged to “conduct a thorough review” of the information regarding the misidentified body and suggested that Israeli bombings of areas where hostages were held may have led to a mix-up of remains. Despite the controversy, Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced that it would proceed with the scheduled release of six Israeli hostages on Saturday.
The dispute over the body’s identity has raised new concerns about the ceasefire agreement, which has paused over 15 months of war but is now nearing the end of its first phase. Negotiations for a second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens more hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, are expected to be even more challenging.
The six Israeli men set to be released on Saturday are believed to be the last living hostages freed during the ceasefire’s first phase.
The list includes Eliya Cohen, 27; Omer Shem Tov, 22; and Omer Wenkert, 23, all of whom were abducted from a music festival during the October 7 attack. Also set for release is Tal Shoham, 40, who was taken from the community of Kibbutz Beeri. Additionally, Avera Mengistu, 39, and Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, who had been held since crossing into Gaza years ago, are part of the deal.
More than 600 Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel will be freed in exchange, according to the Palestinian prisoners’ media office. Among the released prisoners will be 50 serving life sentences, 60 with long sentences, 47 who were previously released under a prior hostage-for-prisoner exchange, and 445 individuals from Gaza who were arrested since the war began.
Hamas has also stated that it will release four more bodies next week, marking the completion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. If this plan is carried out, Hamas will retain about 60 hostages, approximately half of whom are believed to be alive.
Hamas has maintained that it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu, backed by the Trump administration, insists on destroying Hamas’ military and governing capacities while securing the return of all hostages—two goals widely seen as mutually exclusive.
Trump’s proposal to relocate about two million Palestinians from Gaza to allow the U.S. to take control and rebuild the territory has further complicated the ceasefire discussions. His plan has been welcomed by Netanyahu but has been universally rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries.
Speaking on Friday, Trump expressed surprise at the rejection of his proposal by Egypt and Jordan, stating that he would not impose it.
I think that’s the plan that really works. But I’m not forcing it. I’m just going to sit back and recommend it,” Trump said in a Fox News interview.
The war has resulted in devastating human losses and destruction. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 Hamas fighters, but it has not provided evidence to support this figure.
The offensive has also reduced vast areas of Gaza to rubble, wiping out entire neighborhoods. At the peak of the conflict, 90% of Gaza’s population was displaced. Many returning to their homes have found nothing left and no means of rebuilding.
As the ceasefire agreement reaches a critical juncture, the fate of the remaining hostages, the political complexities surrounding negotiations, and the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza continue to dominate discussions on the future of the region.