Hamas is set to release six more hostages from Gaza on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, following Israel’s confirmation that a body handed over hours earlier belonged to hostage Shiri Bibas.
The fragile truce between Israel and Hamas was at risk after a body released on Thursday was wrongly identified as Bibas, who was kidnapped along with her two young sons and husband during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
However, late Friday, Hamas handed over another body, which Israel’s Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed as Shiri Bibas.
“Last night, our Shiri was returned home,” her family said in a statement.
In Gaza, armed Hamas militants gathered in Rafah and Nuseirat, where six living hostages were expected to be handed over to the Red Cross for transport to Israeli forces.
These six hostages are the final group from the initial 33 set to be freed under the first phase of the ceasefire deal that began on January 19.
Among them are Eliya Cohen, 27, Tal Shoham, 40, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23 — all abducted during the October 7 attacks. Two others, Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, and Avera Mengistu, 39, had been held in Gaza for nearly a decade after entering under unclear circumstances.
In exchange, Israel will release 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 445 Gazans detained during the war and several convicts serving long or life sentences, according to Hamas.
The Bibas Family Tragedy
The Bibas family became a symbol of Israel’s trauma from the October 7 attack. The misidentification of Shiri Bibas’ body and the staged handover of coffins by Hamas sparked outrage in Israel. Shiri’s husband, Yarden Bibas, who was captured separately, was freed on February 1.
Israeli intelligence and forensic experts confirmed that Shiri Bibas was likely murdered alongside her 10-month-old son Kfir and 4-year-old son Ariel. “Our Shiri was murdered in captivity and has now returned home to her sons, husband, sister, and all her family for rest,” the family said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Hamas and vowed they would “pay the full price” for failing to return Shiri’s body earlier but stopped short of ending the ceasefire, which has been in effect since January 19.
Ceasefire Tensions and Future Talks
Despite tensions, Hamas officially informed Israel of the names of the six hostages set for release, signaling the handover would proceed.
The ceasefire has paused fighting, but long-term peace remains uncertain. Hamas, which killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in its October attack, continues to assert control over Gaza despite heavy losses.
Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and has devastated much of Gaza, displacing hundreds of thousands who now depend on humanitarian aid.
Both sides are expected to enter talks for a second phase of the ceasefire, focused on securing the release of roughly 60 remaining hostages, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive, and discussing the potential withdrawal of Israeli troops.
However, negotiations have been complicated by regional outrage over U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to clear Gaza of Palestinians and redevelop the area as a Riviera-style resort under U.S. control.
