The bodies of the family of an Israeli hostage who was released two weeks ago will be handed over on Thursday, Hamas has said.
Yarden Bibas was freed on 1 February – only to find out his wife and two children, age four and nine months, had reportedly died in an airstrike.
Israel has said it is extremely concerned about their condition but hasn’t previously confirmed their deaths.
Hamas leader Khalil al Hayya said on Tuesday that the Bibas family would be among four bodies to be handed over.
Six more living hostages, the final due to be released under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, will also walk free on Saturday, according to the group.
Only three had been expected to be released this weekend.
Meanwhile, Israel has said negotiations on the second phase of the deal will “happen this week”.
Yarden Bibas just before being handed over on 1 February. Pic: Reuters
Foreign minister Gideon Saar said it would involve the country’s remaining hostages being exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners.
“If we will see there is a constructive dialogue with a possible horizon of getting to an agreement (then) we will make this timeframe work longer,” Mr Saar said.
Israelis who survived being kidnapped during the 7 October attack in 2023 have been released in small groups since the first six-week phase began last month.
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Israeli hostage reunited with wife
Three more – Alexander Troufanov, Sagui Dekel Chen and Iair Horn – were freed last weekend.
The swap included 369 Palestinians, the most released up until now, and 19 Israeli hostages have been returned so far in the current phase.
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Drone reveals devastation in northern Gaza
The deal has provided a vital pause in the fighting that’s devastated Gaza and left tens of thousands dead.
It’s allowed more food and medical aid to get in and some of the millions of displaced Palestinians have been able to return to survey the devastation of their homes and communities.
Continuation of the truce is not guaranteed, and negotiations on a second phase were supposed to begin on 2 February.
Agreeing terms of the next phase is expected to be difficult as it includes questions about who will run Gaza in future.
Mr Saar told reporters on Tuesday a “Hezbollah model” wouldn’t be acceptable and Israel demanded a “total demilitarisation of Gaza”.
Simply passing control from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority would not be allowed, he added.
“We will not accept the continued presence of Hamas or any other terrorist organisation in Gaza,” said Mr Saar.
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What’s life like in Gaza now?
President Trump has suggested a controversial plan for the US to “take over” Gaza, rebuild it, and move out Palestinians – a plan roundly rejected by Western powers but welcomed by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel’s foreign minister said he was aware of an alternative plan being worked on by Arab states.
A separate Israeli official also said mobile homes would start to be delivered into Gaza to provide shelter for some of those displaced.
Hamas had accused Israel of delaying the move and threatened to postpone the release of any more hostages.
More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
At least 1,200 Israelis were murdered and more than 250 kidnapped when the group attacked on 7 October 2023.
This story originally appeared on Skynews
