Hamas returns bodies of four Israeli hostages including mother and two children

Hamas has returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, who were abducted on October 7, 2023. Hamas claims they were killed in Israeli airstrikes. This handover is part of ongoing hostage negotiations amid a ceasefire. The remains were displayed in Gaza before being transferred to Israeli forces for identification. The Bibas family had held onto hope for their loved ones, marking birthdays in their absence. The release highlights the ongoing complexities of the hostage situation, with Hamas still holding about 60 captives. Hamas plans to release six living hostages on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire's future remains uncertain, as tensions continue over Israel's military objectives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 48,000 Palestinians have died.