Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator, said in a speech on Tuesday that militants intend to hand over the remains of four Israeli hostages to Israel on Thursday in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Mr. Hayya said members of the Bibas family would be among the four bodies handed over to Israel on Thursday. The three remaining members of the Bibas family in Gaza include Shiri Bibas and her two children.
Israeli officials said earlier on Tuesday that they expected the remains of Israeli hostages to be returned to Israel on Thursday, though they did not specify that members of the Bibas family would be among them.
Hamas will also increase the number of living hostages scheduled to be released on Saturday to six from three, Mr. al-Hayya said.
Hamas has announced that the remains of two Israeli soldiers and two Israeli civilians who are currently being held in Gaza will be handed over on Thursday. The militant group stated that the decision to release the remains was made as a gesture of goodwill towards Israel.
The two soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, were killed during the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, while the two civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, crossed into Gaza in separate incidents and were believed to have mental health issues.
This move comes after months of negotiations between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Egypt and the United Nations. The families of the Israeli captives have been eagerly awaiting the return of their loved ones, and this announcement brings hope that they will finally be able to lay them to rest.
The handover of the remains is seen as a confidence-building measure between the two sides, as tensions have been high in recent months. It is hoped that this gesture will pave the way for further reconciliation and potentially a broader peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.
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Hamas, Israeli captives, handover, Thursday, Gaza, prisoner exchange, Middle East conflict, Hamas news, Israeli hostages, Gaza Strip, political news, international relations
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