Hamas to Release Six Hostages and Return Four Bodies in Expanded Deal with Israel

The agreement is part of a fragile ceasefire, with negotiations for a second phase focusing on remaining hostages and a potential long-term truce.

Hamas has announced plans to release six living hostages on Saturday and hand over the remains of four deceased hostages, including a mother and her two young children, on Thursday.
The Bibas family, whose fate has drawn international attention, is reportedly among the deceased, though their deaths have not been officially confirmed by Israeli authorities.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement has facilitated the release of 19 hostages so far, with 33 initially agreed upon in exchange for the release of nearly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
Negotiations for the second phase of the truce, which aims to address the release of remaining hostages and broader conflict resolutions, are expected to begin this week.
The agreement, brokered with the involvement of Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., also includes provisions for humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.