Hamas hands over bodies of Israeli hostages

In a significant development under the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Khan Younis. The handover, conducted with ICRC representatives signing documents alongside masked fighters, marks the first return of deceased hostages under the current agreement.

The bodies reportedly include those of Shiri Bibas and her two children - infant Kfir and four-year-old Ariel Bibas - who were among the youngest hostages taken during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. The fourth body is that of Oded Lifshitz, 85. Hamas had previously announced in November 2023 that the Bibas family members had been killed in Israeli airstrikes, though Israeli authorities had not confirmed these deaths at the time.

The transfer occurs as part of the broader ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, mediated by Qatar and Egypt with U.S. backing. Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya announced that six living Israeli captives are scheduled for release, including Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu, as part of the deal's first phase.

The agreement has already facilitated the release of 1,135 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody, with 502 additional releases scheduled for this week. Upon completion of next week's planned exchanges, the total number of Israeli hostages released under the first phase will reach 33, comprising 25 living captives and eight bodies.

This exchange takes place against the backdrop of a broader conflict that has resulted in nearly 48,300 Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza. The situation has drawn international attention, with both the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice involved in legal proceedings regarding the conflict.

Israel awaits DNA confirmation of the victims' identities before making official announcements about the returned bodies.