Hamas and Israel have announced a deal for the release of six living hostages from Gaza and the return of four captives’ bodies — including, according to the Palestinian group, the remains of two young boys seen as national symbols back home.
AFP reports the family of hostages Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir — the last remaining Israeli children held in Gaza — said they were “in turmoil” at the news, noting they had still received no “official confirmation” of their loved ones’ deaths.
Thirty-three Israeli hostages were due for release under the first phase of the fragile Gaza truce that took effect last month, with 19 freed so far in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners. Of the remaining 14, Israel says eight are dead.
Hamas “decided to release on Saturday, February 22, the remaining living (Israeli) prisoners whose release was agreed in the first phase, numbering six”, the group’s top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised address.
The group also “decided to hand over four bodies on Thursday, among them (those of) the Bibas family”, Hayya added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office subsequently confirmed that during indirect negotiations in Cairo, “agreements were reached” for the six living hostages to be handed over on Saturday, in addition to four bodies on Thursday and four more next week.
