Hamas to Release Final Hostages and Bodies as Ceasefire Agreement Progresses
The Islamist group Hamas announced on Tuesday their plans to release the last six living hostages as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, with the handover scheduled for Saturday, February 22. The release comes alongside the delivery of four deceased bodies to Israel on Thursday, including those of the Bibas family, confirmed Jalil al Haya, the head of Hamas's negotiating delegation.
Among the six freed hostages are Ebra Mangesto, an Ethiopian-Israeli, and Bedouin Hisham al Sayed, who have both been held captive in Gaza since voluntarily entering the enclave in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Each hostage will be exchanged for 77 Palestinian prisoners, including 47 individuals who were part of the 2011 Shalit agreement and were detained again at a later date.
Hamas will also deliver the bodies of hostages to Israel on Thursday, including those of Shiri Bibas, an Argentine national, and her two young children Ariel and Kfir, aged two and five. Kfir notably was the youngest hostage taken on October 7, 2023, when he was just nine months old from kibbutz Nir Oz, located merely 15 kilometers from the Gaza border. In a statement made by Hamas's armed wing in November 2023, it was asserted that all three members of the Bibas family had perished in Israeli bombings, though this information has not been confirmed by Israel.
Yarden Bibas, the children's father, was released alive on February 1 after enduring 16 months of captivity. Jalil al Haya emphasized that these impending releases aim to finalize the first phase of the swaps and pave the way for discussions regarding the next phase of the agreement. He criticized the Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, for delaying and avoiding the humanitarian components outlined in the ceasefire, which include the provision of tents and prefabricated housing.
Al Haya further stated that Hamas continues to collaborate with mediating countries like Egypt and Qatar to push Israel to permit the entry of heavy equipment necessary for debris removal and adequate shelters for Gaza, as envisioned in the ceasefire deal.
In preparation for the second phase of the agreement, which is expected to involve the conclusion of hostilities and the release of remaining living hostages, Hamas's leadership convened a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday to strategize on the upcoming negotiations. They had anticipated discussions regarding this phase to begin at the outset of February.
As the situation unfolds, the international community remains watchful of these developments, understanding the potential implications for the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
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