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

Hamas has returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including a mother and her two young children, who were taken during the October 7, 2023 attack. The remains are believed to be Shiri Bibas, her sons Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz. The handover took place in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, where Hamas displayed the coffins before transferring them to Red Cross vehicles. Formal identification of the remains will occur in Israel, expected to take up to two days. This event follows the release of 24 living hostages in recent weeks. Hamas plans to release six more living hostages on Saturday and four additional bodies next week, as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations.