Hamas to release six more hostages and hand over four bodies this week

Hamas and Israel announced Tuesday a deal to free six Gaza hostages alive and return the bodies of four captives, including, the militants say, the remains of two children considered national symbols in their country.

When the collapse of the truce and the continuation of the process of freeing the Israelis kidnapped in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023 seemed imminent, Israel and Hamas surprisingly reached an understanding in Cairo aimed at finalizing the first phase of the agreement in the coming days.

On Thursday, the bodies of four of the Israelis will be returned to Israel, including presumably Shiri Bibas and her two young sons Ariel and Kfir, and on Saturday, six hostages will be returned to Israel alive, not just three as planned.

"We have decided to hand over the bodies of four prisoners of occupation on Thursday as part of preparations for the second phase of negotiations on the agreement," senior Hamas official Khalil al-Haya told Al-Aqsa TV, adding that the remaining four bodies would be handed over next week.

Among the bodies Hamas is expected to hand over to Israel on Thursday are those of Shiri Bibas, of Argentine origin, and her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, aged two and five respectively.

Speed ​​up the second phase

Israel was already preparing to recruit tens of thousands of reserve soldiers to invade the Gaza Strip again, but under the deal it will now allow the entry of trailers and heavy engineering equipment.

Israel also pledged to release all terrorists who had been released in the past and imprisoned again.

One of the leaders of the Islamic movement, Khalil Al-Hayya, confirmed that the decision to bring forward the conclusion of the first phase of the agreement is aimed at speeding up negotiations for the second phase and accused Israel of avoiding talks on this issue.