A top Hamas leader says the group will release six living Israeli hostages on Saturday and the bodies of four hostages on Thursday, including the remains of the Bibas family.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, in prerecorded remarks on Tuesday, did not elaborate beyond saying that the “Bibas family” would be included in the handover of four bodies.
The six to be released on Saturday are the last living hostages to be freed under the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza. Three hostages had been expected to be freed on Saturday.
It was not clear why Hamas changed the plan.
Israel said Tuesday it expects the bodies of four hostages held in Gaza to be returned on Thursday, ahead of the release of six living captives on Saturday, confirming an earlier announcement from Hamas.
During indirect negotiations in Cairo between Israel and the Palestinian group, “agreements were reached according to which the six living hostages (due for release under) the first phase will be released on Saturday”, said a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, referring to the truce agreement that went into effect last month.
