JERUSALEM, Feb 22 – Six more Israeli hostages were set to be released from Gaza on Saturday as part of an ongoing exchange deal between Hamas and Israel. This comes after Israeli authorities confirmed that a body handed over the previous night was that of Shiri Bibas, a woman taken captive along with her husband and two young sons during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023.
Hostage Release Amid Fragile Ceasefire
The ongoing exchange agreement, which has been taking place in phases since January 19, had faced uncertainty when a body delivered by Hamas on Thursday was initially misidentified as that of Bibas. However, after forensic examination by Israel’s Institute of Forensic Medicine, her family confirmed that the body received late Friday indeed belonged to her.
“Our Shiri has finally returned home,” the Bibas family stated, mourning her loss while emphasizing the pain of her captivity and the tragic fate of her children.
The next phase of the exchange will see six Israeli hostages freed in Gaza, where armed Hamas militants are expected to transfer them to the Red Cross. The humanitarian organization will then facilitate their safe handover to Israeli forces. The hostages include:
- Eliya Cohen, 27
- Tal Shoham, 40
- Omer Shem Tov, 22
- Omer Wenkert, 23
Additionally, two long-term captives, Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, and Avera Mengistu, 39, are also set to be released. Both men had entered Gaza separately under unclear circumstances nearly a decade ago and had been held in captivity ever since.
Israel to Release Hundreds of Palestinian Prisoners
In exchange for the hostages, Israel is set to release 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. This includes 445 individuals detained in Gaza during the current conflict, as well as several others serving long-term or life sentences. The prisoner release has been a key component of the ceasefire negotiations, which have aimed to secure the freedom of hostages taken during the October attack.
Despite the ceasefire bringing a temporary halt to hostilities, tensions remain high. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Hamas will face severe consequences for its actions, particularly for the tragic deaths of Shiri Bibas and her children.
Tragic Fate of the Bibas Family
The Bibas family has come to symbolize the immense pain endured by Israelis since the October 7 attack. Shiri, along with her 10-month-old son Kfir and four-year-old son Ariel, was kidnapped from their home. Her husband, Yarden Bibas, was taken separately and later freed on February 1.
Following intelligence assessments and forensic investigations, the Israeli military determined that both young boys had been deliberately killed while in captivity. Reports indicate that their mother may have also been executed alongside them. The grim confirmation of her fate has intensified outrage in Israel, as many had hoped she and her children would still be alive.
“Our beloved Shiri was killed while in captivity, and now she has been brought back to her family,” her relatives expressed with deep sorrow.
Ceasefire Under Pressure but Holding
Despite deepening anger over the hostage deaths, Israel has not abandoned the ceasefire agreement. However, tensions persist as Hamas accuses Israel of violating the truce by obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. The militant group formally notified Israel of the names of the six hostages to be freed on Saturday, signaling that the exchange would move forward as planned.
The fragile ceasefire has provided a temporary respite from the violence that has ravaged the region. However, there remains significant uncertainty about the long-term prospects for peace. Hamas, which killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in the October 7 attack, continues to assert control over parts of Gaza despite suffering significant losses in the war.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of approximately 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, and hundreds of thousands of civilians remain displaced, dependent on international aid for survival.
Uncertain Future for Further Negotiations
As this phase of hostage exchanges nears completion, mediators have begun pushing for a second stage of negotiations. This next phase aims to secure the release of approximately 60 remaining hostages, though fewer than half are believed to still be alive. The talks would also address the potential withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a point of contention between both sides.
However, long-standing disagreements over Gaza’s future governance continue to stall diplomatic progress. Tensions have been further inflamed by recent remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who proposed a controversial plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza and transform the territory into a resort-like area under American administration. The suggestion was met with widespread condemnation across the Middle East, deepening uncertainties about the region’s political future.
For now, the ceasefire holds, but both Israel and Hamas remain at odds over what comes next. With each passing day, families on both sides of the conflict await news of their missing loved ones, clinging to hope for a resolution that remains elusive.