With only a few days left before the initial phase of the delicate ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was about to end, the extremist group has agreed to return the bodies of four deceased Israeli captives in return for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
Israel had postponed the release of approximately 600 Palestinian detainees since Saturday to express its disapproval of how hostages were mistreated during their handover by Hamas.
“Due to Hamas’s repeated breaches, which include degrading ceremonies for our captives and the manipulative use of our captives for propaganda purposes, the decision has been made to postpone the liberation of terrorists scheduled for yesterday until the safe return of the next captives is confirmed, and without degrading ceremonies,” a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declared.
Tensions were made worse after Hamas said it was turning over the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons – only for it to later be revealed that the identity of the mom did not match.
But Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou later told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Hamas would hand over the bodies of four Israelis the next day.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, thousands of Israelis lined the highways as the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two children were transported to their burial.
Israelis are waiting on the side of a road where the funeral convoy carrying the coffins of slain hostages Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, will pass by near Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Shiri Bibas was kidnapped with her two sons — Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months old — from their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023.
Yarden Bibas, their father, was taken separately, and released during the ceasefire last month. The three will be buried on Kibbutz Nir Oz on Wednesday afternoon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
