With the initial ceasefire nearing its end, Hamas has reportedly agreed to release the remains of four deceased Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel previously delayed the release of approximately 600 Palestinian prisoners in response to celebratory events surrounding the release of hostages by Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying the delay was due to “Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes,” adding the release of prisoners would be postponed “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.”
Complicating matters, Hamas initially claimed it would return the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons, but the mother’s identification was later found to be incorrect.
The militant group stated it had “no interest in withholding any bodies in its possession,” and alleged the hostages in question died in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023, further claiming that bombardments in the area could have led to misidentification of the remains. However, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari disputed this, attributing the deaths of Ariel and Kfir Bibas to their captors.
Hamas accuses Israel of a “serious violation” by delaying the prisoner release and insists that further negotiations regarding a second phase are contingent on the release of the Palestinian prisoners.
Despite this, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the bodies of four Israelis would be handed over the following day.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, large crowds of Israelis gathered along highways to pay respects as the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two children were .
Shiri Bibas, along with her sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months, were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023.
Yarden Bibas, the children’s father, was taken separately but released during the previous ceasefire. The three are to be buried on Wednesday afternoon in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
“`