Hamas says it should launch the physique of Israel’s youngest hostage Kfir Bibas and the stays of his brother and mom in addition to six residing captives underneath first part of Gaza ceasefire

Hamas has agreed to release six living Israeli hostages and the remains of four others, including the Bibas family, who have become symbols of Israeli suffering in the war.

Kfir Bibas, who was nine months old when he was abducted and his brother Ariel, 4 years old at the time, have been among the highest profile Israeli hostages seized in Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023 terror attack.

A video of the abduction showed Shiri Bibas swaddling her and her two young sons in a blanket and being whisked away by armed men. 

Their father Yarden Bibas was released this month but their mother Shiri was not. Hamas said in late 2023 that Shiri and the children had been killed by Israeli bombardments.

Israel has said it is gravely concerned about Shiri and her children, but has not confirmed their deaths. Hamas said the family were killed in an Israeli airstrike early in the war. 

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, in pre-recorded remarks on Tuesday, did not elaborate beyond saying that the ‘Bibas family’ would be included in the handover of four bodies.

The six hostages to be released on Saturday are the last living hostages to be freed under the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas have yet to negotiate the second and more difficult phase, in which the terrorist group would release dozens more hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.

The hostage releases have come in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Hamas says it will release the body of Israel’s youngest hostage Kfir Bibas (pictured) on Saturday

The fate of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, reflected the feeling of helplessness as dozens of hostages remain in Gaza after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack. Shiri Bibas is pictured holding her son Kfir

Ariel Bibas (pictured) was four when he was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 terror attack

The ceasefire that began in mid-January has paused the deadliest fighting ever between Israel and Hamas, surged aid into devastated Gaza and allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes as Israeli forces withdrew from much of the territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office confirmed that a deal with Hamas was reached in Cairo on Tuesday to bring forward the release of Israeli hostages over the weekend.

Hamas will free six living hostages, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, instead of only three who were slated for release. 

Four bodies of deceased hostages will be handed over on Thursday followed by four next week, Netanyahu’s statement said.

Three hostages had been expected to be freed on Saturday. It was not immediately clear why Hamas changed the plan. 

But an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said Netanyahu had agreed to allow long-requested mobile homes and construction equipment into Gaza as part of efforts to accelerate the hostages’ release.

Hamas last week threatened to hold up the release of hostages, citing the refusal to allow in mobile homes and heavy equipment among other alleged violations of the truce.

Israel’s government says it wants to eliminate Hamas’ military and governing capabilities in Gaza. But the terrorist group quickly reasserted its control of the territory during the ceasefire despite losing leaders and many fighters.

The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, were taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Nir Oz

Yarden Bibas is pictured together with his sister and father aboard a military helicopter on their way to Sheba hospital in Ramat Gan on February 1, 2025

Yarden Bibas is pictured with his mother, father and sister on February 1, 2025 at the Tel-Hashomer Sheba medical center following his release 

American President Donald Trump has proposed to relocate the Palestinians out of Gaza so the US can redevelop the territory – but the plan has been rejected by the Arab world and by the Palestinians, who fear they’ll never be allowed to return. 

Israel, however, has embraced the plan, and it and the Trump Administration have emphasized they share the same goals in the war.

Israelis were horrified by the sight of three emaciated hostages in an earlier release this month, and revelations about hostages being held alone, barefoot or in chains have increased the pressure on Netanyahu’s government to push ahead with the ceasefire’s next stage.

Families and others fear that time is running out – and the news about the Bibas family confirmed that once again.