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Hamas Says Remains of Israeli Captives Will Be Handed Over on Thursday


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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Relatives of freed Gaza hostages call for release of remaining captives


The relatives of the three Israeli hostages released from Gaza by Palestinian militants Hamas called on Monday for all those remaining in the territory to be freed.

Speaking at a press conference at the Sheba hospital where the three women are being treated, they gave no details on the conditions in which their relatives had been held for 471 days or on their health.

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were released on Sunday as part of the first round of exchanges that also saw around 90 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails.

Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of Romi Gonen, said: “We got our Romi back, but all families deserve the same outcome, both the living and the dead. Our hearts go out to the other families.”

“We are a people who desire peace but are ready for war when needed,” she added.

Yamit Ashkenazi meanwhile passed on a message from her sister Doron Steinbrecher.

“Everyone needs to return, until the last hostage comes home. Just as I was fortunate to return to my family, so must everyone else.”

Mandy Damari, the mother of British-Israeli Emily Damari, said her daughter was “in high spirits”.

She called for all the hostages to be released and for humanitarian aid that was going into the Gaza Strip to also go to the remaining captives.

Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, 91 remain in Gaza, including 34 the military has said are dead.

A further two hostages who are presumed alive have been held in Gaza since 2014 and 2015 respectively, as has the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war. The three are also due to be released as part of the deal.

Before the press conference, the Israeli military released new footage of the moment the three freed hostages were reunited with their mothers at an Israeli military base.

In the footage, the three women are seen embracing their mothers tightly as they meet for the first time after their release.

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Relatives of the recently freed Gaza hostages are calling for the immediate release of the remaining captives held in captivity. The families of those who have been reunited with their loved ones are urging all parties involved to work towards a resolution that will bring an end to the suffering of those still being held hostage.

In a heartfelt plea, the relatives are highlighting the anguish and pain that comes with not knowing the fate of their family members. They are emphasizing the importance of compassion, empathy, and humanity in this situation, and are urging for a swift and peaceful resolution.

The families are also appealing to the international community to intervene and help facilitate the release of the remaining hostages. They are calling for solidarity and support from people all around the world to help bring an end to this ordeal.

As the world watches and waits for a resolution, the relatives of the freed Gaza hostages are standing together in unity and hope, praying for the safe return of their loved ones. They are urging for a swift and peaceful resolution to this crisis, and are calling on all parties involved to do everything in their power to bring the remaining captives home.

Tags:

  1. Gaza hostages
  2. Freed hostages
  3. Relatives
  4. Captives
  5. Gaza conflict
  6. Hostage release
  7. Gaza crisis
  8. Humanitarian plea
  9. Family support
  10. International advocacy

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