Hamas to release six Israeli hostages and four bodies including two children

Hamas announced it will release six living Israeli hostages on Saturday and the bodies of four others, including the Bibas family, on Thursday. This marks the first release of bodies under the current ceasefire. The Bibas family, including two young boys, Ariel and Kfir, were reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike. Kfir was the youngest hostage taken during Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023. The hostage releases are part of a ceasefire that has paused fighting and allowed aid into Gaza. Negotiations for a second phase of hostages and a lasting ceasefire are ongoing, with significant challenges ahead.